Contents insurance - older property

Yellow_mango

We have recently bought a house and I’m looking to get contents insurance sorted.

The main issue is that the property is around 100 years old, with original sash windows. Most windows on the ground floor are painted up or don’t open for whatever reason, but none currently have a key lock. I know it is possible to fit bolts through the frames - would this be adequate for insurance purposes?

There is also a patio door which does lock, but not with a key.

Are there any insurers who are more likely to provide cover for this kind of property? Or will no insurance be valid until we have upgraded all the locks?

forgotmyname

Or just say no it does not have key operated locks when taking cover?

If that insurer require key operated locks then go elsewhere.

Yellow_mango

Yes I went through several quotes the other day, only to be told at the end that they wouldn’t cover.

I was hoping to save hours of disappointment if someone here could point me in the direction of insurers who may cover this.

Aretnap

If you try a couple of different price comparison sites, plus Aviva and Direct Line (the two big players who are not on comparison sites) you will have covered well over 90% of the market in tens of minutes rather than hours.

Unless you live in a high crime area or there's something else that marks you out as high risk the lack of window locks would not normally be an insurmountable problem when getting cover.

Uxb1

I suspect you will have difficulties.
The windows locks issue you might well get round but most require that all external opening doors have full grade 5 lever mortice locks to a BS standard and in the case of patio door top and bottom locks with some form of key.

Yellow_mango

An update for anyone reading in future.

I have found reasonably priced cover from Halifax. I have read all the policy documents very carefully, and I can find no requirement for locks on doors or windows to be of any specified standard.

The only provision is that if a theft occurs they can ask you to take reasonable extra precautions to improve the physical security of your home, and can refuse to continue to provide cover if you do not do so.

dacouch

Yellow_mango wrote: »

An update for anyone reading in future.

I have found reasonably priced cover from Halifax. I have read all the policy documents very carefully, and I can find no requirement for locks on doors or windows to be of any specified standard.

The only provision is that if a theft occurs they can ask you to take reasonable extra precautions to improve the physical security of your home, and can refuse to continue to provide cover if you do not do so.

Check the policy "Schedule" for any "Endorsments"

Yellow_mango

When it arrives in the post I will do. There was definitely nothing in anything available to me before purchase. I did check thoroughly.