And that should mean it’s time to check your house insurance as there will be plenty of temptation for Christmas burglars as houses are packed with piles of festive presents pushing up the value of the contents.

If the worst happens homeowners could be at risk of their insurance policies not paying out as insurers can refuse or scale back any claims if you are underinsured.

That can apply to the total contents as well as individual expensive items stored in the house as relatives and friends gather.

Most home contents policies automatically offer you extra cover at Christmas like Virgin Money - but some do not and homeowners need to be sure of exactly what they are covered for now before the frugal recession-tinged festivities start.

Virgin Money Home Insurance automatically increases the cover by 10% over the festive period at no extra cost, giving extra piece of mind to homeowners. Valuables of up to £1,500 for a single item are also covered, should the item get lost or damaged.

Grant Bather, spokesman at Virgin Money, said: “We might all be tightening our belts and cutting back but Christmas is still a time to enjoy yourself and to catch up with friends and family.

“But of course just because it’s Christmas it doesn’t mean that burglars stop working and that accidents do not happen. We’ll still be spending and buying presents and entertaining and that means potentially thousands of pounds worth of extra goodies in homes over Christmas. Homeowners should be vigilant and ensure that they have adequate insurance and protection in place.”

Virgin Money urges homeowners to be careful and take the following simple steps.

• Don’t keep your Christmas presents in clear view through windows. Don’t make it obvious to burglars.
• Check your home contents policy to see if it offers automatic increased cover over the festive period.
• If you are buying expensive single items such as jewellery or electrical goods update your existing policy so your insurer knows you have them in the house.
• Keep receipts and proof of purchase for expensive items.
• If you are away from your home for an extended period of time, such as taking a holiday or visiting relatives, make sure that someone is able to check on your house every day or so.
• Make sure that all of your valuables are locked up and safe.

With a clear increase in the value of theft claims over winter months it is important that homeowners have suitable contents cover for all of their Christmas gifts and valuable items. That’s why esure home insurance offers a 15 per cent increase in contents cover for policyholders between 1st December and 15th January to ensure they are fully covered in case it’s not just Santa that comes to visit!

With spending on the high street starting to drop off, the number of sales bargains to be had are on the up. When estimating the value of contents, it’s important for homeowners to understand that it’s the replacement value or original price tag that counts, not how much you actually paid. Also, items above £1500 must be specified on your home insurance policy - including presents for others.

Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at esure home insurance, said “Christmas gifts that you have bought for friends and family as well as presents
that you’ve received can add up to a hefty sum. It is important to make sure you have ample contents cover, especially around this time of year when thefts tend to be more targeted and the value of burglaries are higher than any other season.”

esure offers some top tips on how to prevent a burglary this Christmas:

1. Hide your presents: Don’t leave Christmas presents under the tree if they can be seen from outside the house. Put them in the loft or a cupboard that’s preferably not on the ground floor.
2. Don’t leave your house looking empty: If you are leaving your property unattended, give the impression that the house is occupied by using light timers and consider leaving the radio on.
3. Dispose of your rubbish with care: Empty boxes outside your home advertises what you got for Christmas so dispose of empty boxes in bin bags or go to your local recycling centre.
4. Be tighter on home security: Take extra care and make sure you have locked all doors and windows, including those on upper levels.
5. Keep unwanted eyes out: Make sure all blinds and curtains are closed at night.

However, it is not just the Z-list who needs to worry about their worldly goods; it applies to everyone who is considering escaping another British winter.

Darren Black, home insurance expert at Confused.com, explains:

“It is a stipulation on most home insurance policies that homes should not be left unoccupied for 30 consecutive days or more. For anyone planning on a month-long stay, whatever the time of year, it is essential that they make sure that there is someone staying in the house at some point whilst they are away to make sure home owners do not inadvertently invalidate their cover.

“Other precautions which travellers can take include purchasing time-lapse automatic lighting, arranging for someone to open and close curtains daily, cancelling milk and newspapers, not leaving your car on the driveway for extended periods of time or asking someone to move it occasionally, and making sure that all windows and doors are locked before leaving the house.

“Holiday-makers should avoid advertising their absence to thieves. Many internet social networkers change their status on sites like Facebook to say that they are off on holiday which is an open invitation to thieves, particularly if their address details are listed on their personal page.

“It is important for anyone flying south for winter, be it to do a bush tucker trial or just to catch up some winter sun,, to spend a couple of minutes ensuring that their nests are well and truly protected.”

The survey among 2000 Brits also reveals the main reason behind the green trend is a tightening of purse strings, with over a third (38%) of those quizzed stating that it’s due to cost - while over half (56%) are setting aside a total spend of just £200 for such items. This is closely followed by a desire to be greener (35%) and for around one in six (16%), it’s a lifestyle decision and influenced by ‘home fashion’ magazines and television programmes.

And nearly half (48%) would make a conscious effort to be greener when undertaking home improvements in the future - if the price was right.

Regionally, those in the South East are the most eco conscious, with over one in 10 (14%) of all home improvements using reclaimed materials, compared to just three per cent of those in Northern Ireland. Interestingly however, this is likely to change, with three quarters (75%) of those in the province considering using reclaimed items for future home improvements and Scots least likely (58%).

The poll found the top 5 green and reclaimed items to be used in home improvements:

1.   Fireplaces
2. Floor tiles
3. Radiators
4. Baths
5. Paint

Worryingly however, over half (52%) of people would not think to notify their home insurance to check which items would be covered by their current home insurance policy. This could leave them underinsured and out of pocket in the event of any problems.

David Rochester, head of underwriting at Halifax Home Insurance said: “There has been a growing trend for ‘Going Green’ over the past few years in terms of eating, travelling and recycling, and this is now extending to the home as Brits become increasingly eco conscious. Items such as fireplaces, baths and tiles have traditionally been popular, but many households are now likely to consider solar panels or wind turbines.

“Halifax Home Insurance can provide cover for such items, but consumers must be aware that many home insurance policies do not, which could leave them underinsured and facing a large bill in the event of any problems. We also offer unlimited building and contents insurance that would cover green and reclaimed materials such as tiles and fireplaces.

“We would urge anyone looking to undertake any work within the home to seek planning permission and check their level of cover with their home insurance provider in the first instance.”

Top tips for green home improvements

• Ensure you request planning permission for the installation of wind turbines and solar panels as there are strict rules that need to be adhered to
• The internet’s a great resource for green living tips - nearly half (49%) of those polled by Halifax Home Insurance sourced their materials online
• Get tips from the experts - look into the latest advice on eco friendly, sustainable materials and paint
• Visit your local reclamation yard to pick up a bargain - nearly a quarter of Brits (22%) do
• Use charity shops and reuse schemes to find furniture or dispose of unwanted items
• When buying products make sure they’re durable and can be used again and again
• Make sure your home insurance covers you for the equipment you use - Halifax Home Insurance does cover wind turbines and solar panels, but many don’t within their policies
• Government grants are available for the installation on solar panels and wind turbines.
• For further information visit http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/What-can-I-do-today/Energy-saving-grants-and-offers

The findings reveal that cycling to work is on average saving people around £33.70 a week or collectively up to £111.2 million. As well as saving money there is of course an added benefit to their personal fitness and the environment.

Interestingly, Sainsbury’s Home Insurance research reveals that men make up a larger proportion of the new cycling community. Some 15% of the male working population have decided to start commuting to work by bicycle in an effort to save money in the current economic climate, opposed to a much smaller 8% of women who are working.(1)

These figures demonstrate a clear effort to save money, a reflection on how people are changing their lifestyle to adjust to new economic conditions. However, Sainsbury’s Home Insurance warns that people switching to bicycles to get to work must ensure that they are kept secure at all times and are adequately insured, particularly when away from the home. Overlooking their bicycle’s security could end up costing them dear if it’s stolen which is certainly a false economy, never mind undoing their good intentions. Over 1,200 bicycles are stolen in Britain every day(2) .

Neil Laird, Sainsbury’s Home Insurance Manager, said: “Using a bicycle to travel around can be a very effective way of saving money. However, with thousands of bicycles being stolen in the UK each week, it could soon turn out to be a white elephant, costing you far more than you expect if you haven’t secured and insured it properly. It’s important to make sure that your home insurance policy covers your bicycle.”

Sainsbury’s Home Insurance offers the following tips for increased bicycle security in and away from the home:

• When buying a bike, budget for security.
• Take out insurance, either by purchasing additional personal belongings cover with your home contents insurance or through a separate policy - do this at the time of purchasing the bike, otherwise you may not get around to it.
• Invest in a secure padlock, bikes must be locked to a fixed structure if you leave it unattended in public places. Also consider where you are leaving your bike, well lit public areas may act as a deterrent.
• Record and register your bike.
  • Make a note of your bicycle model, make and frame number. This assists the police in returning recovered bikes to their rightful owners.
  • Take a clear, colour photograph of your bike and make a written record of its description, including any unique features, so that you can report it accurately if stolen.
• Make sure that the bike is marked or tagged – these should be placed in at least two separate locations, preferably on or in the frame. One of these locations should not be clearly visible.

Specifically when the bike is at home:

•  Keep your bike in a secure garage or shed and keep the door locked.
• Keep it out of public view.
• Secure it to an immovable object or consider installing a floor or wall-mounted anchor lock for extra security.

(1) The consumer omnibus research was conducted by GfK NOP. 562 people were interviewed between 17th and 19th October 2008. The consumer omnibus research conducted by GfK NOP uses a large sample size that reflects the working demographic profile of GB. Given this it is possible to extrapolate figures and make projections from the research results within appropriate confidence intervals.
(2) British Crime Survey: Crime in England and Wales, 2007/ 08, Report from the Office of National Statistics
(3) Only eligible for NDC Protection after payment of a small additional premium.
(4) Additional cover can also be purchased at an additional premium.

The nationwide survey among 2,000 Brits reveals the emotional impact of a fire as well as financial ramifications, with the majority (68%) admitting they would panic and not know what to do if a blaze broke out. Though previous experience has left some more confident of keeping a cool head, nearly a third of those who have suffered a blaze (29%) admit they would still panic in the face of another fire in the home.

And with emotions running high, men feel they (43%) are more likely to be calm and take charge than women (21%). Nearly one in 10 (8%) Brits admit they would attempt to try to douse the flames themselves as opposed to leaving it to the emergency services. Regionally, those in the North East of the country are most likely to panic in the event of a fire (33%) whilst those in the South West are most likely to be cool, calm and collected (33%).

When it comes to the top 10 items that Brits would try to save in a blaze at home once family and friends were safe, sentimental items that cannot be replaced were rated highly:

1. Handbag or wallet
2. Family photos
3. Mobile phone
4. Home computer
5. Childhood items
6. Jewellery
7. Family heirlooms
8. Clothes
9. DVDs and CDs
10. Wii or other games console

Whilst both men and women are equally likely to rescue their most important everyday items such as handbags or wallets, mobiles and even clothes, men are far more likely to want to rescue the home PC -while women prove the more sentimental of the sexes as they are far more likely to consider rescuing treasured family photos. The results highlight the need to take steps to prevent a fire happening in the first place, as well as the importance of having adequate home insurance for both buildings and contents.

And almost half of Brits (48%) could risk losing everything, as they admit they do not know what their home insurance covers them for should they suffer a blaze. Those questioned estimated the average cost of a fire to be around £57,000 yet the actual cost can often exceed £200,000[1].

Martyn Foulds, senior claims manager at Halifax Home Home Insurance, said: “The leading causes of fires in the home are cooking, heating, electrical and smoking materials - and a worrying number of those quizzed told us they don’t regularly check these hazards. But it doesn’t end there - the consequences are not just financial. The emotional impact of a fire in the home can be devastating. To avoid losing items that can’t be replaced, or risking personal injury, we really would urge people to regularly assess their home for fire risks, and if in doubt do call an expert for advice.”

Top tips to prevent a fire in the home

• Ensure smoke detectors are installed and regularly checked throughout your home
• Check gas systems for faulty valves, leaks or items that may cause an obstruction
• Regularly check the state of kitchen appliances in the kitchen for materials that may prevent them working safely
• Maintain electrical items such as power cords, wires, fuse boxes, plugs and sockets
• Ensure fires, candles, oil lamps and other open flames are stored safely and extinguished when you leave the room
• Teach children not to play with lighters or matches and don’t leave them unsupervised with dangerous materials
• Plan emergency exit routes and ensure the rest of the family is familiar with them. Don’t block doors or windows which may be needed to escape fire
• Ensure your home insurance covers you for the full value of your buildings and contents. Halifax Home Insurance offers unlimited cover for buildings and contents so you’ll never be underinsured
• AND FINALLY - if you are you concerned about any electrical or gas problems, don’t hesitate to have them checked by an expert.

* Source: Halifax Home Insurance fire claims data 2007

Of the £16.8 million of damage caused by children’s parties every year, the Bank’s research reveals that 54,000 parties – 8.6% of all those held by children – are thrown each year in the parental home without their parents’ permission and that these alone are responsible for up to £1.4 million of damage each year(1).

With the increasing use of social networking sites Sainsbury’s Home Insurance is warning that homeowners may not be fully covered should their children host parties having posted invites on sites such as Bebo or Facebook.

Neil Laird, Sainsbury’s Home Insurance Manager, commented: “Halloween has grown hugely popular in recent years, and we’d expect some serious parties this Friday night. The worry, though, is that with many people now posting invites on social networking sites, these parties can easily get out of hand, and if they do, some insurers may claim the homeowner failed to take due care of the property and could refuse to pay up.

“At Halloween, the risks of not knowing exactly who’s at your party are even greater than usual, for obvious reasons, and we’d strongly advise people, particularly, teenagers, against openly advertising fancy dress parties on social networking sites.”

The research for Sainsbury’s Home Insurance also suggests that if a child holds a party in the parental home there is a more than one in three (38%) chance that damage of some sort will be caused. While for just over 1 million parents, the damage was limited to less than £100, the consequences can be hard on the wallet, with 17,000 parents admitting that parties for their children in the past five years had resulted in damage costing between £1,000 and £5,000 each. Some 124,000 parents said that they did not know how much the damage had cost(1).

(1) Based on analysis of data from ICM. 3,000 people were interviewed by ICM between 2nd August 2008 and 10th August 2008. Interviews were conducted over the phone with a total of 604 interviews with parents of children aged 13-24 years old. The consumer omnibus research conducted by ICM uses a large sample size that reflects the demographic profile of GB. Given this, it is possible to extrapolate figures and make projections from the research results within appropriate confidence intervals.

(2) Only eligible for NCD Protection after payment of a small additional premium.

(3) Additional cover can also be purchased at an additional premium.

• Burglaries increase by around 20% during the winter months
• London was the top spot for burglaries last year, followed by Leeds and Manchester
• Average cost of a burglary last year was over £2,000
• Take steps now to protect your property, advises Halifax Home Insurance

When the clocks go back, opportunistic burglars use the cover of darkness to target homes that are easy to break into. Halifax Home Insurance’s own claims data shows that burglaries increased by 20% during the winter months last year**, but there are many simple ways that can go a long way to avoiding becoming a victim.

Senior claims manager Martyn Foulds said: “We tend to see burglary claims start to rise around this time of year, and with the average burglary claim now reaching over £2,000 it is certainly worthwhile taking some simple and cost effective measures to avoid becoming an easy target. Although home insurance will cover any financial loss, some items such as family heirlooms and items of sentimental value cannot be replaced, so it’s far better to avoid a burglary happening in the first place.”

Valuables

• Keep valuable items out of sight
• Mark property with your postcode using an ultra violet pen
• Keep receipts and photographs of valuable purchases as these can help if you need to make a claim
• Consider installing a safe in your home for small items like credit cards, digital cameras and MP3 players
• Have expensive items of jewellery valued every three years by a reputable jeweler

Locks

• Fit visible, key operated window and door locks and keep them locked
• Pay particular attention to windows on the ground floor
• Doors that lock from the inside can be fitted with bolts for additional security
• Don’t risk leaving keys outside the property as burglars know where to look

Alarms

• Install one in a prominent position and always set it
• Remember an alarm won’t stop a burglar getting in so use one in conjunction with other security measures

Gardens

• High walls, railings, and trellising on fence tops can be enough to deter thieves as they slow down a quick getaway
• Prickly hedges and thorny bushes around the property can also deter thieves and obscure their view of what’s inside
• Keep bins and ladders out of sight as these can be used to gain access to the property.

If you have been burgled

• Report it to the police as soon as possible and obtain an incident number
• Tell your insurer, quoting the police incident number and giving as much detail as possible about what has been taken and any damage caused to property
• If the home has been left unsecured after a break in, ensure the police and your insurer are both aware of this fact.

Halifax Home Insurance offers additional Home Emergency cover, which for around £4 a month can ensure that your home is made secure following a break in, and can also help with a whole range of other domestic emergencies, from lost keys to leaking pipes and gas or electricity failures.

Being burgled causes homeowners a great deal of stress and upset, not to mention the financial loss, yet still according to the ABI (Association of British Insurers) around one in four homes has no home insurance cover at all. Halifax Home Insurance provides unlimited cover for buildings and contents, so homeowners will never be underinsured.***

Top ten hotspots for burglary claims in 2007:

* 1. London
* 2. Leeds
* 3. Manchester
* 4. Harrow, Uxbridge and Wembley
* 5. Nottingham
* 6. Slough
* 7. Bradford
* 8. Bolton and Wigan
* 9. Solihull and South East Birmingham
* 10) Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth and Lichfield

*According to Halifax Home Insurance claims data 2007 - Winter months include Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan Feb and Mar

**According to 2007 annual Halifax Home Insurance claims data

***Certain limits apply including single and high-risk items, money and contents in the open.  Details are available within the policy and schedule.  High risk items are subject to limits of £1,500 per item up to a total limit of £15,000.

Senior claims manager Martyn Foulds said: “Although in many cases collectables are irreplaceable, most people would at least want to recover any financial loss in the event of them being stolen or damaged. We’d recommend anyone who has a potentially valuable collection to get it valued by an expert regularly and ensure they obtain a dated copy of the valuation certificate.”

Halifax Home Insurance offers unlimited cover for both buildings and contents, so homeowners can be confident they will never be underinsured. Customers are advised to tell them about any single high risk items worth over £1,500 so they can be listed on the policy, and also keep a dated valuation certificate or purchase receipt so they can prove the item’s worth should they need to make a claim.

Collectors with sum insured home insurance policies need to be aware that their insurers may apply averaging to any claim made, which means that if they have underestimated the value of their home contents, they may only receive a percentage of the value of their valuables equal to that which they have insured should they try to claim.

For example, if a home’s contents are insured for £30,000 but are really worth £40,000, when a person claims they may find the value of the claim is reduced in line with the amount that they are underinsured by - in this case 25% - therefore if their claim was for £6,000 they would only receive £4,500.

Martyn Foulds says: “As many people find it difficult to know exactly what their home contents are worth, Halifax does not apply this system of averaging and instead offers unlimited home contents cover. As long as customers keep us informed of any single high value items over £1,500, they can be confident their collections will be covered.”

To take care of collectables, Halifax offers the following tips:

• Ensure collectables such as art, antiques and comic books are stored in a safe secure place and away from damp or anything else that might cause damage
• Avoid displaying valuable collections in conspicuous places such as on living room windowsills as this can be an advertisement to opportunist burglars
• If possible keep valuable collections in a safe or lockable cabinet in order to deter thieves
• Make sure you tell your insurer about any items of particularly high value, and keep any valuation certificates or receipts in case you need to make a claim in future.
• Take photographs of your collectable items as these can also help insurers to process your claim more easily.

More than 200 million legal music downloads have been sold in the UK since the launch of online stores in early 2004* and digital versions now account for 85 per cent of Top 20 singles sales.

Experts are predicting a similar boom in movie downloads following a deal between Apple’s iTunes and film studios allowing films to be downloaded on the day that DVDs are released. The site has already seen more than two million feature films sold.**

But Virgin Money is urging music and movie fans to make sure their home insurance will cover them for the value of their collections if their computer or laptop is damaged or stolen.

Not all household and contents insurance will pay out for downloaded tracks.

Grant Bather, spokesman at Virgin Money, said: “More people are choosing to download music and films and as such, their computer will have a lot of information on it that if stolen, could be lost forever.

“A number of artists including Bloc Party, Marillion and Radiohead have all released their music online and it is clear that over the coming years artists will be exploiting the internet as a way to release their tracks.

“As such, fans need to make sure that should their computer get damaged, lost or stolen, that the tracks or feature films can be restored.”

With the Virgin Money Home and Contents Cover, householders are able to claim on any downloads that they have receipts for up to a total of £3,000. If the music is lost or stolen they can claim as if they are CDs. Users who download music and film should print off and keep all receipts safe.

Contents insurance also covers home office equipment, including a computer, up to £5,000, while laptops can be covered by the additional Personal Possessions cover.

Laptops lost outside of the home would not be compensated for download cover, but the laptop could be covered under personal possessions cover outside of the property.

* BPI 30 June 2008
** Apple iTunes 11 April 2007