Admiral Home Insurance - Watch out for this

malc_b

I've just been looking at house insurance and getting quotes. Cheapest is coming out as Admiral, but, when (if?) you read key fact it says:

"If you exceed the number of days ‘Unoccupied’ stated on your Home Policy Schedule we consider your home to be unoccupied from the first day. This period is reduced to 5 days between November and March unless you keep your home constantly heated to 12C whilst away or your water supply is turned off at the mains and the water system drained. We will not pay for loss or damage under many sections of your policy if your home is left unoccupied."

How many people leave their heating on 12C continuously when taking a winter break? Or turn off the water AND drain down the system? In any case is that is what the frost stat is for, if not to come on if the house gets too cold (about 5C I believe)?

Faith177

I think that's a pretty standard clause on home policies now my lat two (1 with LV 1 with AXA) have both had that similar clause on them.

AndyPK

Yeap that's what the frost stat is for.

dacouch

malc_b wrote: »

How many people leave their heating on 12C continuously when taking a winter break? Or turn off the water AND drain down the system? In any case is that is what the frost stat is for, if not to come on if the house gets too cold (about 5C I believe)?

You say leave the heating on at 12c OR drain the water and switch the mains water off.

It's leave the heating on OR drain water

hcb42

12C isn't much, I would not leave my home to potentially freeze over in these months

EDIT just checked my policy, no such clause even exist unless 60 days unoccupied..definitely pays not to go with the cheapest policy.

malc_b

I would expect that some people turn the water off, not sure about draining down the system which strictly would be empty all the cold taps, hot taps, attach a hose to cold pipe drain and drain that (to get that last bit out), attach a hose to hot water cylinder drain and drain that. And presumably turn off CH and drain that system too.

12C is a pretty high temperature. Frost stat is usually at 5C I believe.

Back when I had coal fired heating I used to turn off the cold water when I went away but I never drained the system down. Too much of a job and then when back home another job to clear airlocks.

I would agree with cheap is not best option. I don't have such a clause in my current insurance (aviva).

GT60

Thank you for posting this malc_b I was thinking about going with Admiral due to it being the cheapest but wont bother now.
It is now down to the AA or Aviva.

Setterflynn

Other clauses to watch out for-
Churchill now say that if window locks are fitted they must be locked whenever house is empty and that keys must not be visible from outside. For me this would mean keeping them locked all the time, or checking all windows every time I go out. I had already transferred from Direct Line as they had the same clause. I have returned to RIAS, more expensive, but do not need to be locked in without keys at hand.