A burglary is a terrifying and stressful experience. While the good news is that most UK home insurance policies will cover you if your home is burgled, there are significant limitations and policy conditions that could lead to your claim being rejected.
It is absolutely crucial to understand these exclusions. We break down the top three reasons an insurer might refuse a payout and share vital facts about residential break-ins.
🛑 The Top 3 Reasons Your Burglary Claim Could Be Rejected
If you’ve taken out a home insurance policy, you assume you’re covered—but the devil is in the detail of your terms and conditions.
1. Security Failures (Minimum Requirements & Forgetfulness)
Most home insurers require your property to be protected by a minimum level of security. Generally, this includes:
Deadlocks on all external doors.
Locks on all accessible windows (e.g., ground floor).
The biggest risk? Human error.
If you forget to lock your doors while popping to the shops, your home insurer may legitimately reject your claim on the grounds of negligence. This is a massive issue: a staggering 1.9 million people regularly leave their door unlocked when they leave the house, according to new research from MoneySuperMarket, meaning a large number of homes may not be protected by their own insurance policy.
💡 Security Alarms: Investing in more robust security systems, such as burglar alarms and cameras, can help reduce your premium. However, your claim could be rejected if you forget to set your security alarm before going to bed, for example. They must be in proper working order and used.
2. High-Value Items (The Single-Item Limit)
High-value items such as phones, laptops, and jewellery are often sought after by thieves, but they may not be automatically covered for their full value.
Most standard UK policies have a ‘single item limit’ (often between £1,000 and £2,000). If you own an item—like an engagement ring or high-spec laptop—that is worth more than this limit, you may be under-insured.
Depending on your policy, you will need to:
Specify the item (list it individually) to your insurer.
Get additional cover (sometimes called 'High-Value Item' or 'Personal Possessions' cover) to protect items above a certain value.
If you fail to do this, your home insurance provider may reject your claim or pay out significantly less than the value of your lost item.
3. Long Trips (The 30-Day Unoccupancy Rule)
Planning an extended holiday or business trip? Be careful. Most home insurance policies specify that your home should not be left unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days (this period can vary between 30 and 60 days, so always check your documents).
If a burglary takes place while your home is empty for a period longer than this limit, your claim may be rejected. Some insurers may allow you to put extra cover into place for an extended trip, but you must be sure to check with your provider first.
💡 Seven Crucial Facts About Residential Burglary
Burglars are often opportunistic thieves who prey on houses and flats. They seek out any opening they can take advantage of—specifically doors and windows that are left open, unlocked, or are easy to force. Anything of value they might spot through a window will only spur them on. But it really doesn’t take much to deter these thieves—just smart thinking.
Burglar Facts:
Valuable Giveaways: Burglars target homes that they think will contain valuables. A sure giveaway is leaving packaging from expensive items (like a new TV) outside your front door.
Vulnerability Check: They look for homes with windows or doors left open or with vulnerable features that they can exploit.
Pattern Awareness: Burglars are aware of the times when someone is expected to be away from their house, such as during the school run or holidays.
Visibility is Key: They typically do not want to be seen or heard. If they feel that they would be noticed by a neighbour or passerby, they are more likely to move on.
Targeting Keys: Burglars often choose a home because they’ve spotted a specific vehicle, motorcycle or bicycle they want to steal—and they know the keys are more than likely to be inside the residence.
Shed and Garage Risk: Sheds and garages are often vulnerable as they are not well-secured and contain tools which a burglar can use to assist them to gain entry to your home.
The Second-Time Risk: It’s a fact that many burglars return to homes that they’ve previously burgled because the homeowner failed to upgrade security following the first burglary.
✅ Final Takeaway
It's really important that you double check the terms and conditions of your home insurance policy, as well as updating your home insurer of any changes to your circumstances, to ensure that you have the cover you need. As WHICH? advises, being aware of the rules is the first step in being properly protected.
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