Decorations 'won't affect insurance policies'
Tue 18 Dec 2007 4pm
An
insurance expert has assured festive householders that a large amount of lights and decorations will not have an impact on their home contents cover.
David Rochester, head of underwriting at Halifax Home Insurance, said that Christmas lights will not affect a standard
insurance policy "in any way", although he did urge those using electrical decorations to be aware of safety issues.
Recognising that even a small collection of lights can result in an "increased risk of fire", Mr Rochester advised homeowners not to overload electrical sockets and to always turn fairy lights off before going to bed at night.
"A few simple measures can go a long way to reducing fire risks," he said.
Mr Rochester also stated that winter is an "ideal" time for people to improve their home security measures and urged property owners not to leave their houses vulnerable to burglars over the festive period.
A recent report from Liverpool Victoria stated that burglary and theft currently accounts for 36 per cent of crime in the UK.
