People heading away on holiday are being urged to think twice before posting pictures of their getaways on social media, as it could invalidate their insurance. Home insurance expert Anna Thurnston said that if you have the misfortune of having your home burgled while you’re away, “oversharing” holiday snaps online could lead your insurer to doubt if you took enough care to protect your home. She said: “It’s recommended to share photos retrospectively once you’re home.
” However, this little known tip isn’t often followed. According to insurance company Saga Nearly two in five people in the UK (38%) post on social media while away, which could impact a burglary claim, and over one in five (22%) leave their home unoccupied for more than 30 days without telling their home insurer, which could invalidate a policy. Anna said: “The risk of damage, leaks and theft increases when nobody’s home, and unnoticed damage can lead to higher repair costs.
“If you’re planning to be away for more than 30 days, check that you’re not exceeding your ‘days unoccupied’ limit." Other commonly made mistakes include giving a copy of your key to a neighbour or friend, which almost half of people have done, without realising it could invalidate their insurance, and hiding a key under the front mat, which 16% of people admitted to having done. If a burglar finds this and uses it to rob you, most insurers will not pay out.
Another tip that’s easily forgotten is setting the burglar alarm before you head out on holiday. Anna added: “If you have an alarm at your property, your insurer will likely expect you to use it when you leave your home empty for any length of time. “If you don’t set your alarm, an insurance claim for burglary is likely to be rejected or only partially paid.
Some policies may also require annual servicing of your alarm.” Check out more of Daily Mirror's latest travel stories by signing up to our free weekly newsletter..
