Compare home insurance quotes
and save 18% on average

The importance of understanding exactly what your home insurance policy covers is crucially important, according to an expert at the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

If a customer is uncertain of what they are insured for, when the time comes to claim in the event of a burglary or disaster, they may be shocked to find that their policy does not have the coverage they expected.

"The key things that I think any policy should cover you for is going to be theft, fire damage, weather related damage, particularly flooding," said Malcolm Tarling, a spokesman at ABI.

Despite these key elements of home insurance, there is much more to consider that requires customers to be rigorous when addressing insurers about what the policy includes.

Expensive items such as jewellery or the latest gadgets may be under threat as they may not be included as part of the contents insurance due to their high value or there may be a limit to the number of pricier items insurable.

Mr Tarling suggests that customers take out individual policies for these kinds of possessions so that they can be sure the goods are covered.

Similarly, elements of your business that you keep at home may require an increased premium or separate business policy altogether.