Will an unlocked door invalidate the insurance?

InsideInsurance

You need to read your own policybook to confirm. Traditionally in a family home there is no requirement for signs of forced entry but in a sharers there is so an unlocked door would invalidate a theft claim.

I agree with others on more thinking about switching them than your insurance.

opinions4u

alistair.long wrote: »

So moral of the story lock your door or put a hidden camera in and expect your things to go missing.

The camera will not impress an insurer if you leave the door unlocked.

Premier_2

WLITC wrote: »

I live in a shared how and one person seems to think its perfectly acceptable to leave the back door unlocked even while everyone is at work and annoyingly, is also the one that is most likely to use it and then leave it open.

Naively, she also thinks because we live in a rough area (its really not the best) that no one would be interested in breaking in and stealing things :mad:.

Anyway, in the hopes of talking some sense into her I wanted to confirm if leaving the door unlocked would invalidate the policy in the event of a claim?

What do the terms of your contents insurance say, as it may be different to her contents insurance. Do you both even have insurance for your personal effects?

Also you should read the terms of the tenancy agreement again, as you may find something in there ... to cover the LL who would have insurance on the building itself.

lisyloo

I woudl first try talking to her before moving her possesions or stripping her room.
Seems ike the sort of behaviour that could cause a row.

I would also ask the landlord if you can install a lock on your room and let him/her know about the problem.
They might not be too keen on having their contents nicked either if it's furnished.

but the first approach should be to talk to her.

WLITC

Thanks all. I do trust her, I don't thing she's some dodgy character, but the thing is she's not British and I don't think she quite 'gets it' and the other issue is she apparently doesn't have much of value in her room, one of the other housemates reckons she mainly has just clothes and a few bits, hence maybe her apparent lack of concern over security.

As for shape up or ship out approach, well the problem is she's the longest standing tenant so I think she thinks she rules the roost a little. I'd speak to the landlord, but I don't want to cause friction in the house. Anyway, I've just come home and one of the other girls told me she was furious (I'd put up a note last night and this is whats triggered it all today) but she's gone out now, so I've written her a polite note, just saying that I just wanted ensure the house is kept safe and that I have a lot of expensive items in my room and that if we were to get burgled that my contents insurance and the landlords insurance would be invalid. Hopefully she'll calm down and see sense.

Update - I text her and she's fine now, she's still insistant that no burglar would try to break in as its a shared house and they would know that each room is locked (not sure how she believes they would now this info) and many of my friends who have been burgled in the last year all live in shared houses and that didn't seem to stop those burglars. Anyway, I'm hoping she's got the hint. Hopefully if everyone else keeps it locked she'll get the hint and follow suit.

forgotmyname

Change the lock and dont give them the new key. Pretend their key must be faulty but your key works.

They can refuse to payout if you forgot/couldnt be bothered to change the lock to an approved type
after being told to for the new policy.
Mate did that argued about the state of the door and an approved lock would not have made any difference.

Never did say if he got paid out.

ceridwen

I'd go for putting locks on individual doors if you feel you can't get her to move out.

Has anyone tried explaining to her that it simply doesnt matter/apply how things are in her country - she is in someone else's country now and things are different here and she must abide by the way things are in Britain (ie lots of thefts going on). You have to adapt to the country you're in - if its Saudi Arabia, for instance, you don't drink alcohol (if you've got any sense), if its Britain you lock everything up (if you've got any sense):(. The fact that she has been living in this house longest is irrelevant - that is more than balanced out by "when in Rome...".