Terminology

There are a number of terms that have special meanings when used in relation to home insurance. We have prepared a list below of the ones you are most likely to come across. These are broad definitions and may vary from insurer to insurer, or even from contact to contract. You should always check the exact policy wording for a formal definition.

Buildings:

The private house or self- contained flat  which shall include its domestic outbuildings, garages, greenhouses, tennis courts, swimming pools, terraces, patios, drives, footpaths, walls, gates, fences, hedges and including landlords fixtures and interior decorations forming part of the property on the same site.

Contents:

Household goods, furniture, furnishings, appliances, clothing, valuables, personal effects and money owned by you or your family and in private use, fixtures, fittings and interior decorations for which you  or your family are legally responsible as occupier, visitors personal possessions provided they are not otherwise insured.

Accidental loss or damage:

Destruction or damage caused by violent external means, or loss.

Please note there will be various exclusions on every policy. i.e. sports equipment in use, sub-aqua equipment, contact lenses.

Personal possessions:

Single Article Limit

These are articles normally worn, used or carried about in every day life. We define them as clothing and personal effects, jewellery, watches, furs, photographic equipment, binoculars, cellular phones, musical instruments, sports equipment, luggage, toys, portable radios, televisions and pedal cycles.

A single article limit will normally be applied. This is the maximum cover that is available for any single item (usually around £1,000). This means that if you wish to cover articles that are worth more than this you should specify them individually in the optional extras section.

Valuables covered within the home:

Items of gold, silver and other precious metal, precious stones, jewellery, watches, furs, pictures, curios, other works of art, cameras, telescopes, microscopes, musical instruments, collections of coins, stamps or medals.

No claims discount:

This discount is only available, based upon the number of claim free years insurance has been held.

Minimum Securities

In some post code areas a particular insurer may specify that minimum securities apply. This means that the insurer will insist upon certain approved locks being in place for the insurance to be fully effective. See the definition below.

Security Discounts

Insurers may offer a discount to those householders who have protected their homes with approved security devices (locks and the like) as long as the home is not in an area where the Insurer already insists that approved locks are necessary.

Approved Locks

By approved locks or minimum securities an insurer generally means :-

• High quality locks
• The final exit door to be fitted with a five-lever mortice deadlock or lock which conforms to BS3621.
• Other external doors, including access doors from adjoining or integral garages, should be fitted with a similar lock (BS3621) or fitted with key operated security bolts one third from the top and one third from the bottom of the door.
• Patio doors fitted with key operated security devices top and bottom of each door.
• Windows on the ground floor or basement or overlooking a flat roof to have a key operated security device on each.

Excess

In the event of you making a claim on your insurance policy it is usual for the Insurer to ask you to pay the first part of the claim. This is know as the excess and applies to each and every claim that you make. The amount of the excess may vary from one Insurance contract to another.

For example if the Contents excess on your policy is £50 and you make a claim for £500 worth of damage, the Insurer would pay you £450 of the claim.