What Type of Locks do Your Home Insurer Require?

Strike_Team

I'm having some issues with my house insurer just now. They require a certain level of security for a discount on premiums. The documents they sent me with the letter confirming my policy state that they require a British Standard 5-lever mortice door lock, or 2 bolts opening from the inside only, or multipoint locks with at least 3 bolts. The policy document, on the other hand, states mortice locks or bolts, but has no mention of multipoint locks. My doors are uPVC with multipoint locks, and cannot be fitted with mortice locks. When I wrote to thef for clarifacation, they said that multipoint locks didn't meet their standards, however they would accept that my house DOES meet their standards for this year as I've stated clearly what security I do have.

Having looked closely at my uPVC doors, the locking mechansims look pretty robust, but the uPVC doors and frames look a bit feeble. I'm wondering whether the insurance industry has any faith in these "high security" uPVC doors?

What security standards do other insurance companies impose, my insurer is NFU Mutual?

dunstonh

Most insurers insist on no security standards unless you are in a high claims area or have a poor personal claims history

Strike_Team

They provide a discount if I meet their security standards, I'm wondering what standards other companies set to get a discount.

dunstonh

Security discounts are not offered by all and you have to be wary if you take that discount. If the security is not in use at the time of a claim, they can at worst refuse to pay out a claim or more commonly reduce the amount of the claim by the same percentage as the discount.

5-7 lever deadlocks and locks on downstairs windows are the most common standards.

elsien

When I first insured, there wasn't a discount for security/specific locks, but there was a bigger excess for theft of £500 if I didn't have the locks they wanted, similar to those your company have asked for.
It wasn't a problem at the time, as I didn't have anything worth £500!
As I got more belongings I changed insurer, and traded off a slightly higher premium, (can't remember how much, but it wasn't a lot), for less hassle over locks - they haven't even asked for window locks.