Beware of summer slip-ups

Summer is the season when homeowners are most susceptible to invalidating their home insurance, according to research from one independent financial advisor.

Confused.com says the warm weather leads to people becoming nonchalant around the house, with garden tools being left out, as well as windows and doors being left open.

These slip-ups often lead to a home insurance policy being invalidated and Home Office figures show 31 per cent of burglaries occur via an unlocked door.

Debra Williams, Confused.com managing director advises home owners to "always remember to ‘lock-up’ after yourself so you don’t lose out".

"Forgetting to put tools away, leaving doors and windows open, or leaving expensive equipment out in the garden, even for a couple of minutes, can leave you open to crime without the backup of insurance cover," she continued.

The 25th to the 31st of this month sees National Home Security Week, which encourages the UK’s homeowners to focus on the "simple measures that can be taken to prevent burglaries in the holiday period".