Home insurance on windows with no locks?

PopeSock

I've posted a question in the DIY forum about what to do about the locks, but I though I'd ask more about the insurance side of things.

I've moved into a new house, rented, but have found that the windows have no locks on them. The windows locks are the ones that rest on little metal poles, and rest horizontally when closed.

Would this affect my contents insurance? I've done a search through CompareTheMarket and it gave the option to say that the windows didn't have locks, though when I tried going straight through Direct Line, there wasn't that option.

redmalc

My Direct Line policy needs window locks,however it may depend on the level of cover.
This year direct line have insisted on new five lever locks on the external doors,Alarm and a safe.
Insurance Companies are a joke they want to increase premiums and make you make alterations at your cost to reduce their exposure to a claim

agrinnall

I'm confused, you say the windows have no locks then go on to describe what sort of locks they have.

mufi

redmalc wrote: »

My Direct Line policy needs window locks,however it may depend on the level of cover.
This year direct line have insisted on new five lever locks on the external doors,Alarm and a safe.
Insurance Companies are a joke they want to increase premiums and make you make alterations at your cost to reduce their exposure to a claim

I would go elsewhere. I have window locks, a burglar alarm, and a safe, but never declare these to prospective insurers. Once you do, you have to use them every time you set foot outside the property.
I'd rather pay a little more in premiums.

InsideInsurance

agrinnall wrote: »

I'm confused, you say the windows have no locks then go on to describe what sort of locks they have.

I'm guessing they mean the closure method rather than lock.


To the OP - it will generally depend on the area you live in. Some insurers wont cover houses for theft in high risk areas without sufficient security measures. Just double check that there are no endorsements added to the policy around theft claims.

That said, basic secondary locking systems can be added to almost all windows fairly simply. They may not all be great but do tick the box to being a key operated lock

PopeSock

agrinnall wrote: »

I'm confused, you say the windows have no locks then go on to describe what sort of locks they have.

Whoops, not locks, I mean catches. They have catches/closers but there's no key locks on them.