One of the reasons people get home insurance is to safeguard their property from burglary. It’s alarming to know that 1 out of every 10 homes can fall victim to burglary. However if you happen to leave your door unlocked there’s a possibility that your insurance claim could be denied. This situation is quite severe as it can result in financial loss.
While there are insurers who might still accept claims it’s crucial for you to ensure that you don’t do anything that could lead to a denial of your insurance claim.
What can be the grounds for an insurer denying your claim?
There are nine factors where an insurer can potentially deny your burglary insurance claim. It’s important for you to familiarize yourself with these factors so that you can avoid making any mistakes.
Leaving windows unlocked
If your windows have locks always remember to close them before leaving your house unattended. If any of the windows are, without locks or if the locked ones aren’t properly closed it could result in a denial of your insurance claim.
Misrepresenting the types of locks installed
When you install locks in your home its essential to inform your insurer about them accurately.
It’s necessary for the insurance company to evaluate the risks involved which’s why having secure locks can help you qualify for a premium discount. However if its discovered during a claim process that you misrepresented the type of locks you had it can lead to trouble. Your claim being denied.
Inactive burglar alarm
If you have a burglar alarm installed in your house it enhances the security level. You might have even informed your insurer about this fact. It’s crucial to ensure that the alarm remains activated at all times. Forgetting to do can result in a costly mistake and increase the chances of your claim being denied.
4) Using your own tools to gain entry
If the burglar uses any tools belonging to you to gain entry to the house, you could be in trouble. If you have left ladders or wrenches outside, then the burglar may use it. If this happens, your claim is likely to be denied.
Unauthorized use of your tools
If a burglar gains entry, into your house using tools that belong to you it could pose problems. For instance if ladders or wrenches are left outside and utilized by the intruder it can have consequences. In cases there is a higher likelihood of your claim being denied.
Unauthorized use of your tools
If a burglar gains entry, into your house using tools that belong to you it could pose problems. For instance if ladders or wrenches are left outside and utilized by the intruder it can have consequences. In cases there is a higher likelihood of your claim being denied.
Leaving your house unattended
It’s quite common to leave your house unattended when you’re going out for vacations. However if your house remains unoccupied for than 30 days it could pose a problem. Make sure to review the details of your policy. If such a clause exists it’s advisable to have someone stay least for a day in between to avoid any complications.
Utilizing your home, for business purposes
Running a business from home is quite common nowadays. However one downside is that it increases the number of people coming and going from your property, which raises the risk of burglary. This factor may potentially be used as grounds to deny an insurance claim.
Failure to file a police report
In the event of a burglary occurring at your place it’s crucial to file a police complaint/report promptly. Insurance companies usually expect you to report the incident within 24 hours of discovering the break in. Failing to do may result in processing delays or even denial of your claim.
Another aspect to consider is if you utilize your home for business purposes. While its not uncommon for people to run businesses from their homes it’s worth noting that this can lead to an increased flow of people coming and going. Unfortunately this heightened activity could raise the risk of burglary. There is a possibility that an insurance claim might be denied based on this factor.
In the event of a burglary occurring it is crucial to file a police complaint promptly. Insurance companies typically expect policyholders to report the incident within 24 hours. Failure to do so may result in delays or denial when processing your claim.
In addition certain items, like lawnmowers or barbecue grills are often kept outdoors. However if these items are stolen and they are not explicitly mentioned in the details of your policy coverage there is a possibility that your claim might be denied. To avoid this situation make sure to include these items in the list when you set up or update your policy coverage. If they are not specifically listed in the policy coverage details but still require storage it would be wise to lock them in a shed or a similar enclosure.
Remembering and following these points should help ensure that your insurance claim stays valid without any rejections.
These reasons also emphasize the importance of partnering, with a locksmith. Please feel free to reach out to us for securing top notch locks for your home.
