Insurance question about key operated windows.

anotherquestion

Hi folks,

When putting details in for insurance quotes I always get this question,
Do all accessible windows (ground floor) have key operated locks?

They actually do, but for safety and other reasons I never lock the windows so I answer NO.

Since they don't actually say to keep the windows locked on the quote details do you think this is the right answer to give, as in the very unlikely event of a claim they might say, you should have had your window locked.

To me anyways what they ask is very vague and doesn't indicate that the windows should be locked if they have keys.

What is your opinion please?
Many thanks.

Mark_d

In the quote they ask about door and window locks but don't say you need to keep them locked.  The policy booklet likely says that you needed to keep these things locked when you're away from home.

DullGreyGuy

anotherquestion said:

Hi folks,

When putting details in for insurance quotes I always get this question,
Do all accessible windows (ground floor) have key operated locks?

They actually do, but for safety and other reasons I never lock the windows so I answer NO.

Since they don't actually say to keep the windows locked on the quote details do you think this is the right answer to give, as in the very unlikely event of a claim they might say, you should have had your window locked.

To me anyways what they ask is very vague and doesn't indicate that the windows should be locked if they have keys.

What is your opinion please?
Many thanks.

Saying no makes you appear more risky than you are so no insurer is going to penalise you at claims stage for paying more premium than you needed to. 

If you were to change the answer to "yes" then you would need to read your policy book and schedule, often if you answer "yes" to enhanced security then there will be a clause under theft in the policy book or as an endorsement in the schedule that these must be properly maintained and active for them to consider a theft claim. Therefore if you leave the unlocked all the time you'd leave yourself open to having a theft claim declined for not having the security set. 

Aretnap

anotherquestion said:

Hi folks,

When putting details in for insurance quotes I always get this question,
Do all accessible windows (ground floor) have key operated locks?

They actually do, but for safety and other reasons I never lock the windows so I answer NO.

Since they don't actually say to keep the windows locked on the quote details do you think this is the right answer to give, as in the very unlikely event of a claim they might say, you should have had your window locked.

To me anyways what they ask is very vague and doesn't indicate that the windows should be locked if they have keys.

The question is fairly clear - do the windows have locks or not? The correct answer is "yes", though as DullGreyGuy says if you say "no" you are not going to be penalised for making your house sound like a higher risk than it actually is.

Insurers can't simply reject a claim because they think you have done something a bit silly - to reject it there would have to be a clause in your policy to say that they will not pay for a theft that happened when the house was unoccupied unless all doors and windows were locked - or something along those lines. If you answered "yes" they MIGHT add a clause like that to your policy. Or then again they might not - I have lockable windows and there is no such clause in my policy.

Generally clauses like that trend to be added if the house has a history of burglary, or is in a high risk area, or has particularly high value contents etc, rather than being added as standard, though it will depend on the insurer to an extent.

DullGreyGuy

Aretnap said:
Generally clauses like that trend to be added if the house has a history of burglary, or is in a high risk area, or has particularly high value contents etc, rather than being added as standard, though it will depend on the insurer to an extent.

Can also be more common in more budget providers and also added if you have people who are not direct family living in the property.