Window Locks-whats the point.

roddydogs

The point is the insurance asks if locks are fitted-it dosent stipulate they must be locked at all times.. So you cant open a window, say in summer, without invalidating your insurance.?

Premier_2

roddydogs wrote: »

... but you cant open a window from outside even if its unlocked, ...

Oh yes they can

Premier_2

roddydogs wrote: »

The point is the insurance asks if locks are fitted-it dosent stipulate they must be locked at all times.. So you cant open a window, say in summer, without invalidating your insurance.?

That's right, but then most opportunity theives (the ones who usually gain entry through an open wiondow) probably won't enter if they see you are in the room.

A general requirement of most forms of household insurance is that you take reasonable care to ensure the property is left secured.
e.g. mine says they won't pay out unless there has been a forced entry; one where damage has occured.

paulsad

Front of my house is on a busy road and overlooked - the back isn't it backs onto a quiet car park so I've deadlocked my conservatory doors as well as windows - makes us feel a little safer - but you really can't beat a huge rottweiller IMO

LittleMissAspie

We don't lock our windows with the keys, ever. I'm sure our insurance only asked if we have windows locks, not whether we use them. You have to push the lock button down to allow the arm to move, is that secure enough? I can't see how someone could do that from outside. We also leave the upstairs windows open but with the arm down so you can't move the window, you can also lock them in this position.

cajef

LittleMissAspie wrote: »

We don't lock our windows with the keys, ever.

You have to push the lock button down to allow the arm to move, is that secure enough? I can't see how someone could do that from outside.

Not locked, if you ever did have a break in that could effect the settlement, one of the first things the insurance will ask is if they were locked.

Someone from outside smashes a hole on the glass puts their arm though presses the button and the window opens, all from outside, simple really.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

My fire safety visit in my old flat ended with them stressing that I should leave all the windows unlocked at all times, as they could be needed to escape from a fire when I would be in no position to be looking for little keys.

roddydogs

Premier wrote: »

That's right, but then most opportunity theives (the ones who usually gain entry through an open wiondow) probably won't enter if they see you are in the room.

A general requirement of most forms of household insurance is that you take reasonable care to ensure the property is left secured.
e.g. mine says they won't pay out unless there has been a forced entry; one where damage has occured.

So if someone picks the lock, or has skeleton keys to enter, your not insured?

Oopsadaisy

Urban Myth or not???

Bloke is robbed. Entry point: Burglars kick the FRONT door off its hinges. Exit point: same FRONT door [to be exact: the gap where door once was].

Insurance sends assessor round, assessor looks at BACK door and says 'this is a 3-lever lock and your policy says 5-lever is a must, so we are invalidating your policy'.

So despite the fact that thieves never went into the kitchen or near the back door, the insurance company avoids paying out.

True or false.

SpammyTheSpammer

Sounds true to me
But then I have a very jaundiced view of the insurance industry, having been stiffed a few years ago on my only claim for a burst pipe with water damage - claim was split into contents/buildings cost and then refused to pay out as individually these were below the excess value on each. Mutter mutter....