A prominent independent UK insurance provider recently highlighted a range of mistakes that could result in a home insurance claim being rejected and have advised that paying attention to the conditions of cover can help avoid complications should a claim be required.

According to their findings, leaving a spare key under the doormat is a key reason for home insurance claims being rejected as home security is compromised. Criminals are wise to homeowners' 'secret’ hiding places, and leaving keys on vacant properties could be deemed negligent.

A second key cause of rejected claims is smoke alarm batteries going flat. Smoke alarms offer more than safety benefits; they help reduce home insurance premiums. However, if a homeowner receives a premium discount on account of a smoke alarm being installed, insurance providers will expect it to be kept in good working order. If the batteries were to go flat and the property is damaged by fire, insurance providers may reject related insurance claims.

A common mistake homeowners tend to make is to advocate their absence when going on holiday. In times past the problem only extended to the exterior of the property, but as times change and social networks become more popular, mentioning a vacant property on Facebook or Twitter could spell trouble. Putting personal details and details of individuals’ whereabouts into the public domain could provide opportunistic thieves with the opening they need.

While there is no clause stating that one cannot mention holidays or imminent trips on social networks, this issue has sparked debate on whether irresponsible social networking practises will affect home insurance payouts in future.

About Prudential Insurance

Prudential is a UK provider of affordable home insurance. The company is also known for its reliable Life Cover, Serious Illness Cover, and Income Protection Cover policies. Visit www.pru.co.uk <http://www.pru.co.uk/insurance_protection/home_insurance/> for more information or a free insurance quote.