The days are getting darker, decorations are going up and Mariah Carey’s ‘All I want for Christmas is you’ is destined to blast through your TV, radio and any other available speakers for the next month. It’s official: Christmas time, the season of mistletoe and wine, is in full swing – and so is the annual festive tradition of landing this year’s must-have presents for our loved ones.
The way we’re shopping is changing: the UK high street is no longer the bastion of all our gift-giving needs. Instead, consumers are increasingly drawn to the cost-cutting measures and convenience of online shopping, which now accounts for £1 in every £5 we fork out to retailers.
One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is how we splash the cash at Christmas. A typical UK household spends over £2,000 each month throughout the year, but the countdown to Christmas tips this figure to over £2,500 in December, with the purchase of food, alcohol and books increasing 20%, 30% and 80% respectively as Santa readies his reindeer.
If you’ve been lucky enough to find yourself on Santa’s nice list this year, you may be wondering if you could claim back for the prized presents under your tree if your property is damaged by frightful weather, a home mishap or if an opportunistic individual other than Old St. Nick manages to gain unauthorised access to your home.
Here – alongside some safety tips – AXA rounds up the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding how home insurance works at Christmas time, so you can have more peace of mind while you’re rocking around the Christmas tree.
- Does AXA Home Insurance cover Christmas presents?
- Does AXA Home Insurance cover festive food?
- Does AXA Home Insurance cover accidental fire damage caused by Christmas decorations?
- Will AXA Home Insurance cover me against any accidental mishaps if I host a Christmas party?
- Does AXA Home Insurance offer increased cover during religious holidays?
- Does AXA Home Insurance cover me if adverse weather results in my property inadvertently damaging a neighbouring property?
- Does AXA Home Insurance cover my home against festive break-ins?
Does my home insurance cover Christmas presents?
Here at AXA, we understand that Christmas can be an expensive time. That’s why AXA home contents insurance automatically increases customers’ cover 30 days before and 30 days after Christmas as standard. So, if you’re lucky enough to have plenty of presents left under your tree by Mr Claus, you can rest easy knowing that your gifts have got the protection they need.
Does AXA Home Insurance offer cover for goods only, or does this include festive food too?
As well as presents, we all know that festive food is the next best thing that gives Christmas that extra sparkle. And if you fancy yourself as the next Nigella Lawson or Jamie Oliver, it’s your prime time to shine brighter than the star atop the tree as you whip up some Christmas culinary delights. But faults with your freezer due to a power cut, power failure – or even worse, an accidental turn-off – can put the kibosh on your kitchen adventures. Thankfully, AXA Home Insurance offers up to £1,000 worth of cover for the contents of your fridge and freezer if disaster strikes, so you can relax knowing that even if the worst happens, you’ll be back to cooking up a storm quicker than you can say ‘turkey with all the trimmings’.
What about accidental fire damage caused by Christmas decorations – does AXA Home Insurance protect me too?
Tis the season to deck the halls with decorations to help turn your home into a picture-perfect Christmas grotto. But as much as you want your property to be merry and bright this festive season it’s a good idea not to hang fairy lights near flammable materials and ensuring they’re turned off before you go out or head to bed – especially as fire damage claims surge in the week running up to Christmas.
AXA Home Insurance may cover your home against accidental fire damage as standard, but being sensible about Christmas decorations can be more effective in reducing the odds of your Christmas going up in smoke if something catches alight.
I’m planning on having a Christmas party this year. Will AXA Home Insurance cover me against any accidental mishaps?
If you’re planning on holding a festive fiesta filled to the brim with good tidings and tinsel, the combo of high spirits, a packed house and expensive presents can be a recipe for disaster. From spilled drinks and damage to furniture, accidents can happen no matter how hard you try to prevent them.
Does AXA Home Insurance also offer increased cover during religious holidays?
Christmas isn’t the only time that AXA home insurance increases the contents sum of your home insurance policy. We will automatically increase contents cover for any one claim during the period 30 days before and 30 days after a recognised religious festival and your family’s wedding or civil partnership – meaning you can get the cover you need at the time that’s right for you.
Does AXA Home Insurance cover my home against winter weather damage?
With winter well and truly here, there’s a good chance that the weather outside will be frightful this festive season. AXA Buildings Insurance can protect your home against a wide range of unforeseen events such as storms and flooding, and includes cover to protect outbuildings, exterior and interior walls, roofs and more.
Blighty’s weather can be unpredictable at best, so considering AXA Buildings Insurance may be worth it whether it’s a white or a wet Christmas. Keep in mind that AXA won’t cover your property against damage resultant of poor maintenance or wear and tear, so it could pay to get ahead of the game by reading our guide on how you can protect your property against a cold snap to keep your home warm and watertight this winter.
Does AXA Home Insurance cover me if adverse weather results in my property inadvertently damaging a neighbouring property?
No matter how many safety precautions we put in place, sometimes accidents are unavoidable. If weather damage to your home inadvertently results in damage to a neighbouring property – such as a tile being blown off your roof and smashing your neighbour’s window – AXA Home Insurance has you covered thanks to property owners’ liability (if you have Buildings Cover).
Similarly, if you have guests over and one of your visitors trips on worn stair carpet and injures themselves, occupiers’ liability insurance can offer protection (if you have Contents Cover.) Unexpected surprises (unless they’re presents) are the last things you want to be dealing with this Christmas but AXA home insurance can help reduce the stress and keep more of your hard-earned money in your wallet if the worst does happen.
Does AXA Home Insurance cover my home against festive break-ins?
Unfortunately, not everyone is full of festive cheer this time of year and there are plenty of scrooges out their looking to take advantage of our high spirits for their own gain. After Santa has been and gone, your home is likely to be filled with presents and goodies, which could spell trouble if you’re targeted by opportunistic thieves.
If you’re unlucky enough to have the gifts that give your home that extra dose of Christmas sparkle stolen, AXA Home Insurance can be there to lend a helping hand. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and there are plenty of security measures you can take to deter undesirables from gaining access to your home.
Take a read of our guide to securing your property against break-ins to give your home that extra level of fortification this festive season.
So here it is, merry Christmas, everybody’s having fun, by looking to the future you can keep your home better protected and prevent problems before they’ve even begun. So, whether you’re dreaming of a festive feast with family or some down time to take stock, we at AXA hope you have yourselves a merry little Christmas filled with plenty of jingle bell rock.
