62 • NATIONAL HOME SECURITY MONTH
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Homeowners unaware
insurance premiums raised
by lower-quality locks
» » MANY UK HOMEOWNERS DON’T
realise that failing to include locks which
meet British Standards can invalidate
an insurance policy or lead to higher
premiums.
National Home Security Month in
October reminds us all, however of the
importance to remember that while
searching for home insurance quotes,
insurance companies will ask for details
about the type of locking systems featured
on all external doors of the house.
If a household isn’t secured with the
correct locks – and residents falsely
states it is – the home insurance policy
could become invalid, meaning the
insurer will refuse to pay out in the event
of a break-in.
However, many homeowners
are unaware both of the serious
consequences and the fact that they can
easily prevent this from happening by
seeking a professional evaluation of the
security of their locks.
Finding out whether door locks meet
the requirements can prove difficult for
untrained homeowners, especially those
who have moved into an older property
and cannot be sure without removing the
locks from the doors.
Some people who cannot identify
whether their locks comply with British
Standards may simply choose to declare
this fact. This can leave them paying a
substantially higher premium on their
policy.
Increasing numbers of locksmiths
are realising the benefit of tapping into
this market and are actively advertising
physical assessment services that help
homeowners reduce their insurance
premiums.
Joe Halsall, Digital Marketing Manager
at door and windows specialists Origin,
said: “Many people are taking the
opportunity to modernise while gaining
peace of mind in terms of both valid
home insurance and security.
“We’ve had a number of customers
finding their door had an outdated
locking system that didn’t meet their
insurance requirements. The ability to
update their door to something more
modern, and put off potential intruders in
the process, often seals the decision.”
When locks do need changing, the
opportunity is there for savvy locksmiths
to suggest a variety of additional
products, that offer a heightened level of
security while being both affordable and
effective.
National Home Security Month
(NHSM) is taking place throughout
October to remind householders of the
importance of keeping their property fully
protected, a fact that can all too easily
be overlooked due to the stresses and
distractions of everyday life.
In March this year it was reported
there had been a 30% rise in robberies
recorded by police, as well as a 6%
increase in burglary offences. Residents
of London were most at risk, with the
city accounting for 42% of all robberies
in England and Wales. In terms of total
recorded crime, the capital accounts for
just 17%.
Between April 2017 and April 2018,
around 28 people in every 1,000
experienced a domestic burglary across
England and Wales, at a total of 697,000
over the year.
LOCKSMITHJOURNAL.CO.UK | SEP/OCT 2018
Despite these alarming figures, a
survey conducted by Neighbourhood
Watch revealed just four in 10 people
lock their doors when they leave the
house and over a third of burglars
successfully gained access through the
front door.
During the second week of the
campaign, which was first launched
in 2013, NHSM will be exploring
security standards and delving into the
importance of window and door locks.
NHSM recommends homeowners with
external timber doors secure them with
mortice locks and a night latch which
meets British Standards. It also suggests
homeowners with PVC-u or composite
doors upgrade the cylinder lock to a
British Standard model.
Some home insurance providers offer
discounts on home insurance policies for
customers who have approved, British
Standards-compliant locks installed,
while others insist on a five-lever mortice
lock on the exit doors in order to qualify
for cover.
Most insurers offer a discount of up
to 5% for having British Standards-
compliant locks installed, but typically
require them on ‘all exit doors and key-
operated locks on all ground floor and
accessible windows’, or similar.
However, some insurance companies
are removing this requirement. A
spokesperson for Aviva said: “We’re
currently making the process of taking
out insurance easier by reducing the
amount of questions asked. One of the
things we’ve focused on is consumers
being asked what locks they have, which
we don’t believe is necessary.”
Joe added: “Homeowners who know
their locking systems are fully secure and
British Standards-compliant not only gain
peace of mind but also lower insurance
premiums.”
www.origin-global.com