Confused about locks? It could cost you because giving your insurer the wrong information can invalidate your home insurance.
Do you know mortice deadlock from your multi-locking system? And if an insurer asked you what type of lock your front door has, could you answer them correctly?
Many homeowners don’t realise how important it is to give insurers correct information when it comes to details about their home security.
But it’s a question most insurers will ask in order to assess how well your home is protected, and just hazarding a guess could cost you when it comes to making a claim.
How getting your locks wrong could invalidate your policy
You don’t have to turn your property into Fort Knox but, should someone attempt a break in, your insurer will want to know if you’re house was adequately secured before paying out.
According to the ABI, many home insurance policies require certain locks to be fitted and the insurer could decline a claim if a burglary happens as a result of them not being used. In fact, most insurers will stipulate that doors should have locks fitted to the “British Standard”.
The Metropolitan Police security guidelines advise that: “The door should be fitted preferably with a five-lever mortice deadlock, though insurance companies will accept a rim automatic deadlock; both must be to British Standard 3621.”
How Confused.com can help
But if “mortice” and “deadlock” is gobbledygook to you then you’re probably not alone. Most quote process simply list the most common lock types and expect you to choose yours:
- Five-lever mortice deadlock
- Five-lever mortice deadlock conforming to BS3621
- Key-operated multi-locking system
- Rim automatic aeadlatch with key-locking handle
But because these are difficult to identify by name alone, the Confused.com home insurance quote process now includes a new image feature so you can see pictures of each lock type in order to accurately inform your insurer of the one on your main door.
Head of home insurance at Confused.com, Mark Gabriel, says: “People often don’t realise how important it is to know their lock type, in fact a lot of people guess and get it wrong.
“But it’s so important to get right. Some are more secure than others, so if you’ve given your insurance provider the wrong information you might be underinsured, which could invalidate your policy.
“It’s a detail many people overlook so this new picture system just clears up any confusion.”
As well as locks, the Met security guidelines go further, saying: “Quality locks are only as strong as the doors and frames to which they are attached. Ensure that the frame is sound and the door suitable for external use; for instance, a wooden hollow core door would not be suitable.”
Another common reason insurance claims are refused is because of old locks; the British Standard changes every few years so older properties will need updating. To make sure yours conforms to the most recent BS Kitemark standards contact a reputable locksmith.
And make sure you know what type of lock any back doors or patio doors have because they’ll need to adhere to certain standards too.
