# 9 Surprising Things That Could Invalidate Your Home Insurance
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-02-15
Category: INSURANCE
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/insurance
Meta Title: Contents Insurance Tips: Avoid Costly Mistakes
Meta Description: Discover the top nine things that could invalidate your contents insurance policy and end up costing you more money. Stay protected with SO-SURE's tips!
URL: https://financedigest.com/9-surprising-things-that-could-invalidate-your-home-insurancehtml

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Contents insurance is essential for every homeowner, and with a UK home burglary every 106 seconds1, it’s vital you’re protected should the worst happen. However, it’s good to know that certain things can invalidate your policy and push you outside the guidelines of your insurance policy.

Insurance provider [SO-SURE](https://wearesosure.com/blog/christmas-home-security-so-sure/), has compiled a list of seemingly small actions to be aware of that can void your contents insurance. Check out the tips below for the top nine things that could cost you more money and invalidate your insurance.

1. **Keeping quiet about an accident**

Even if it’s something small that’s happened, [keep your contents insurer](https://www.financedigest.com/how-the-global-insurance-market-will-keep-pace-with-evolving-risks-through-data-analytics-and-technology.html "How the global insurance market will keep pace with evolving risks, through data, analytics and technology") in the know even if you don’t intend on making a claim. Anything from a chipped sink to a dint in the wall should be made apparent to your insurer. Not declaring accidents could impact any [future claims](https://www.financedigest.com/back-in-barcelona-telecoms-bosses-stake-claim-to-digital-future.html "Back in Barcelona, telecoms bosses stake claim to digital future") you try to make.

2. **Installing pet doors**

Whilst it may be a lot easier for you and your pet to have a door flap installed, this can affect or even void an [insurance claim](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-streamline-claims-conversations-in-the-insurance-sector-and-transform-your-cx.html "How to Streamline Claims Conversations in the Insurance Sector and Transform Your CX"). Some [insurers say](https://www.financedigest.com/post-brexit-insurance-reform-clear-before-december-says-boes-woods.html "Post-Brexit insurance reform clear before December, says BoE’s Woods") it can make your door less secure and more prone to damage, so just make sure to inform them if you have a pet door installed. In some cases, it could mean you have to [pay a slightly higher premium](https://www.financedigest.com/finnish-businessman-zilliacus-ready-to-pay-premium-for-manchester-united.html "Finnish businessman Zilliacus ready to pay premium for Manchester United").

3. **Over-exaggerating the value of items**

While the exact cost of the contents of your home isn’t necessary, an accurate valuation of your items is [needed when getting contents insurance](https://www.financedigest.com/breaking-down-the-types-of-insurance-you-need.html "Breaking Down the Types of Insurance You Need"). You should be [careful not to over-exaggerate the value of items in your home](https://www.financedigest.com/home-care-chemicals-market-is-expected-to-expand-at-a-cagr-close-to-5-over-the-assessment-period-of-2021-and-2031.html "Home Care Chemicals Market is expected to expand at a CAGR close to 5% over the assessment period of 2021 and 2031"), this is fraud and can risk invalidating your entire claim. For example, if you say that an old TV is worth thousands rather than hundreds, you may end up with a much larger bill should the worst happen!

It’s important to add details of [valuable personal belongings and any high-risk items](https://www.financedigest.com/the-pull-of-the-past-1-in-5-keep-items-they-think-will-be-valuable-in-the-future.html "The pull of the past! 1 in 5 keep items they think will be valuable in the future") over a certain value to ensure that they are included within your contents policy, such as:

- Tech (computers, laptops and tablets)
- Jewellery
- Rare/collectable items

4. **Dodgy locks**

Keeping your home as secure as possible is every homeowner’s goal, so be sure to keep your locks in good working condition, or it may [cost you money](https://www.financedigest.com/netflixs-gaming-foray-will-cost-time-and-money-wall-st.html "Netflix’s gaming foray will cost time and money – Wall St").

Each [insurer will expect a minimum level of security to keep you covered](https://www.financedigest.com/japan-insurers-to-maintain-cover-for-lng-vessels-in-russian-waters.html "Japan insurers to maintain cover for LNG vessels in Russian waters"), depending on where you live and the level of cover you opt for. Similarly, the types of locks you have should be considered to [meet the standard that your policy](https://www.financedigest.com/opec-abandons-oil-policy-meeting-after-saudi-uae-clash.html "OPEC+ abandons oil policy meeting after Saudi-UAE clash") indicates you need. If these are poorly maintained or faulty, [insurers](https://www.financedigest.com/different-countries-different-insurance-cultures-how-insurers-can-adapt-their-products.html "insurers") may reject any claims you make.

For most cases, insurers will look favourably on those who have high quality and well-maintained locks, and sometimes favour additional security such as burglar alarms when deciding your premiums.

5. **Not updating us when something changes**

You should update your provider when any [personal circumstances](https://www.financedigest.com/the-personal-circumstances-currently-driving-equity-release-enquiries-and-how-to-reach-the-right-decision.html "The personal circumstances currently driving equity release enquiries and how to reach the right decision") change, such as changing jobs or moving address. This is to avoid successful claims being [changed and could lead](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-lead-organizational-change.html "How to Lead Organizational Change") to you having to pay a premium, or worse, being void altogether. Have any DIY projects in mind? This also [applies to any home](https://www.financedigest.com/home-equity-made-simple-things-to-know-before-applying-for-loans.html "Home Equity Made Simple – Things to Know Before Applying for Loans") changes, such as building work and renovations, as contents are at risk of being damaged throughout this period.

6. **[Sharing holiday](https://www.financedigest.com/shares-steady-dollar-dips-as-us-holiday-lifts-rates-gloom.html "Shares steady, dollar dips as US holiday lifts rates gloom") selfies**

An innocent selfie of your family on holiday may seem harmless, but it could attract burglars by letting them know that your home is empty, [offering a prime time for them to take advantage](https://www.financedigest.com/rocket-missile-market-advantages-offered-by-rockets-missiles-and-increasing-adoption-of-missiles-to-drive-market.html "Rocket & Missile Market – Advantages Offered By Rockets & Missiles And Increasing Adoption Of Missiles to Drive Market") of your vacant property.

It may [invalidate your contents insurance](https://www.financedigest.com/ten-things-youre-doing-that-are-invalidating-your-car-insurance.html "TEN THINGS YOU’RE DOING THAT ARE INVALIDATING YOUR CAR INSURANCE") if you are seen to publicly show that the residents of your home are away, so be careful what to share and when to share it. Perhaps share your [holiday snaps when you get home](https://www.financedigest.com/beat-the-exchange-rate-and-buy-that-dream-holiday-home-by-paying-in-pounds.html "Beat the exchange rate and buy that dream holiday home – by paying in pounds! ") and are flicking through the camera roll!

7. **Using your** [home for business](https://www.financedigest.com/home-support-is-vital-for-northern-irish-businesses.html "Home Support Is Vital For Northern Irish Businesses")

The pandemic has changed the way we work, with many more of us being able to [work from home and having more flexible hours](https://www.financedigest.com/madrid-street-sweepers-death-prompts-curbs-on-heatwave-working-hours.html "Madrid street-sweeper’s death prompts curbs on heatwave working hours"), so how does this affect content insurance? Some [insurers may need](https://www.financedigest.com/reasons-you-need-a-car-insurance-when-driving-in-thailand.html "Reasons You Need a Car Insurance When Driving in Thailand") you to update your cover to include office equipment and tech, like printers and laptops. However, if your business already has these items insured, there’s no reason to add this to your personal [contents insurance](https://wearesosure.com/contents-insurance), but it is always worth checking should you need to make a claim in the future.

8. **Having building work done**

Building [work can increase the risk of damage to your home’s](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-maintain-physical-and-mental-health-while-working-from-home.html "How to maintain physical and mental health while working from home") structure and contents, so be sure to notify your insurer of the work that you are planning on undertaking, or you could risk invalidating any future claims.

Once you’ve told your insurer, you may have to pay more for the duration of the project, however, this is standard as your property is more at risk of damage throughout this time – it may be a one-off [payment or an increase in premiums to cover the additional risk](https://www.financedigest.com/risk-of-uk-balance-of-payments-crisis-under-truss-is-rising-deutsche-bank-warns.html "Risk of UK balance of payments crisis under Truss is rising, Deutsche Bank warns").

9. **Having a lodger**

Since 2009, the [total value](https://www.financedigest.com/global-grass-fed-beef-market-value-is-forecast-to-total-us-17-9-bn-by-2031.html "Global Grass Fed Beef Market value is forecast to total US$ 17.9 Bn by 2031") of relief declared as a result of the government’s Rent-a-Room Scheme has increased by 187%, with more people than ever taking in tenants. To many [insurance providers](https://www.financedigest.com/two-thirds-of-consumers-would-prefer-to-deal-with-a-single-provider-for-insurance-products.html "Two-thirds of consumers would prefer to deal with a single provider for insurance products"), a lodger can be considered an extra risk, for example, they may pose as an extra security risk or cause damage. You may have to change your policy to account for any additional people [living in your home](https://www.financedigest.com/still-living-at-home-a-third-of-the-nation-cant-afford-to-rent.html "Still living at home? A third of the nation can’t afford to rent"). [Get a quote today](https://home.wearesosure.com/) to find out how we can cover your contents insurance needs.


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