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Check contents cover this Christmas, home owners told
07/12/10
Edited by Tom Barsdley.Residential property owners have been urged to check the level of cover provided by their contents insurance this Christmas.
Comparison site moneysupermarket.com said the majority of providers will offer a seasonal "automatic uplift" on the value of possessions they protect, although variations are "rife".
Lloyds TSB, for example, increases contents cover by £3,000 for two months around Christmas, but the AA offers a 20 per cent rise between 1st December and 6th January.
Julie Owens, moneysupermarket.com's head of home insurance, said extra protection could be worthwhile, as the average family has £195 worth of gifts under their Christmas tree.
She added that high-value items like jewellery may have to be listed on policies individually, as some insurers place a limit on expensive belongings.
Furthermore, home owners should check if gadgets like mobile phones, iPods and iPads need to be listed separately for cover away from the house.
"We're all getting into the Christmas spirit and enjoying early festivities, but be on guard to ensure your home isn't underinsured," Ms. Owens warned.
According to research by the Co-operative Insurance and Shelter, some 5.41 million households have no insurance in place.
