ABI Warns Travellers Not To Discuss Holiday Plans Online Finance Talks Limited
22.08.11
British holidaymakers have been warned not to discuss their holiday plans on social networks after details emerged of empty homes being targeted by web savvy thieves.
The Association of British Insurers estimates that over one third of the users of sites like Twitter and Facebook regularly post information about when they are going on holiday and leaving their houses unoccupied.
Around 35 million people in the UK use social networking sites, so the holiday season represents an huge window for opportunistic thieves to take advantage of uninhabited residences full of goods.
Cases have been cited in which homes have been ransacked by criminals after details of family holidays were posted on Facebook. In America, one gang of criminals alone broke into 50 different homes after using Facebook to find out when the inhabitants would be on holiday.
Last summer, according to the ABI, insurers dealt with 752 burglary claims against home insurance quotes every day – more than in any other period of the year.
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A guide to insuring an bunoccupied home/b, building or vacant b.../b
A guide to insuring an unoccupied home, building or vacant property
This guide will help those that have been left in the position of insuring an unoccupied home or building, such as a property which has been inherited, subject to probate, unoccupied and under – going renovations, awaiting tenants, or in the unfortunate event that the owner has been taken into care.
Why is unoccupied home insurance so hard to find?
Unoccupied building insurance can very hard to source; the reason for this is because there are very few insurers that cover this type of risk.
Insurers see that an empty property has a higher risk of fire, theft and malicious damage. Coupled with this is the fact that the damage may not be discovered for some time (until the next inspection by the insured or their representative) therefore increasing the possible damage claim to the property, for example, consider the damage which could occur to an unoccupied property which suffers from escape of water from a leaking tap which has been leaking for month.
So what types of cover are available for unoccupied buildings cover?
Basically there are two levels of cover to choose from an insurer. The basic level will cover Fire, Lightening, Explosion and Aircraft claims (you may sometimes get earthquake and subsidence cover included as well)
Normally this basic cover is offered to properties undergoing renovations. It should really only be offered as a last resort as the chances of a lightening or earthquake claim are remote!
Alternatively you can obtain cover which can include the basic cover and also include accidental damage to fixed glass, escape of water, theft or attempted theft & even malicious damage to the unoccupied property.
This cover is more in line with conventional home insurance and can even be offered to properties undergoing minor repairs such as painting and decorating or the fitting of kitchen units.
