Door Security - Home insurance

little_miss_messiah

Hi

I've just had my renewal through, and no I won't be automatically renewing with Budget I will shop around but I was fishing around in the terms and conitions:

They state all final exit doors must have multipoint locking etc with keys on the inside and outside of the door.

Having lost a friend to a housefire I'm highly concious of getting out in a rush if need be and have thumb turns on the inside of all my exterior doors (they are 5 point locking etc but no looking for keys to exit the house if you need to in a rush) they are often fitted to elderly/ disabled homes for this very reason.

Also it states that on double doors they must have key operated locks top and bottom, mine just lock in the middle (with a thumb turn) and have flicky things in the side of the frame which shoot bolts into the top and bottom of the frame to lock.

Any ideas if these conditions are standard if I look elsewhere, as I prob won't have a clue till I get into the fineprint, or if as all is multipoint locking its ok anyway.

I have tried speaking with them but as the call centre is not UK based I'm having real difficulties being understood...

mattymoo

I think you would probably come unstuck with most insurer's security conditions to be honest with you.
If it were a commercial property and the doors were fire exits, you would be fine.

At this stage, I will explain that I am a risk management surveyor for a commercial insurer. Our job is to advise clients on health and safety, security etc and work with them to prevent losses. When I first started out I also used to survey domestic properties as well.

A decent insurer, faced with a situation like yours would send a surveyor round to discuss security matters with you and look at what steps you have taken to make life difficult for thieves. For instance, while I might compromises on some aspects, I would not be happy to see thumb turn locks in a glased door (or where there is a section of glazing next to the door) as the thief will just smash the glass, reach through and let themselves in.

However, most insurers now operate call centres / internet systems and you either fit in (with the criterio) or f off. This is called FIFO underwriting in the trade - although none will admit to it. Very few domestic insurers employ surveyors now anyway and the hassle trying to explain locks and things over the phone to a call centre worker - its like pulling teeth.

Your best bet might be a broker. While people like NU Direct and More Than are FIFO underwriting, there is still Norwich Union and Royal SunAlliance (owners of More Than) for the non standard risks. The broker can discuss your circumstances with them and see what they can do to help.

As for the double leaf doors, if the "flicky things" (I have no idea what they are called either) are concealed in the rebate when you shut the second leaf, I would accept them since you cannot access them without overcoming the lock first. Having said that, its a thumb turn lock so easy to overcome and that takes us back to the original question.


EDIT
Had a bit more of a think about the original question.

Essentially you are asking an insurer to cover an unsecured property. Not only are they looking at means of entry, but means of egress as well. I could smash a window to get into the property but would probably not make off with a 50" plasma TV through the same opening. In your house, all I have to do is go to any door and let myself out.

Insurers would want to know what is at risk, e.g. do you have high value contents, art, collections, jewellery etc ?
Is the house unoccupied during the day?
is it remote / secluded?

I suspect that if the answers to any of the above are yes, most insurers would not be interested in giving theft cover.
If you have a good alarm (pro installation, not DIY) that might sway them in your favour but I would not expect it to be for normal terms. You could expect to see a raised excess, say £1,000.

jennifernil

We have key operated locks on all doors, but keep the keys in the lock unless we are going out. This is acceptable to our insurer (Halifax) and has been to all our previous insurers. At night we could remove the key and lay it near the door but this is not required. For windows we have the key hanging on a hook right next to the window.

So no searching for keys, they are right there.

We have a neighbour who insists on removing her keys to God knows where. When I visit it takes her ages to fetch them. I keep telling her this is very bad and ask what would happen if she had a fire, but she will not listen.

silvercar

I know how difficult it can be to get sense out of call centres, we had one door that was sealed shut and all the call centre could ask was whether the locks were 5-lever. Never mind that it had no glass and couldn't be opened.

Was having a discussion about security on exit doors with friends. One used Chubb (the alarm people) who don't have any special requirements.

Hope this helps you.

mattymoo

silvercar wrote: »

Was having a discussion about security on exit doors with friends. One used Chubb (the alarm people) who don't have any special requirements.

Suspect your friend may be quite well off if he uses Chubb the insurer. They are US based and no connection with Chubb Alarms (or Locks). Superb insurance company but aimed at high net worth individuals.

little_miss_messiah

Crikey, now I'm worried, should have thought of this before (I work for the police). I just wanted the peace of mind re fire etc, and the convenience of not having to look for keys to lock up or unlock the house, and as my boyf has fitted these to a number of local authority residences for council/social services they would be approved etc

Guess I'm going to have to go to the expense of getting the locks changed :eek:

jennifernil

If they are Eurolocks (which is what it sounds like) you can buy new cylinders for £5 or £6 each, try Screwfix or Toolstation, you can see all the different types of locks as well as Eurolocks. Changing a cylinder is pretty easy and you have the boyfriend to do it!