From pumpkin carving to trick-or-treating, Halloween is all about fun with your family or friends. Whilst the spooky season is a highlight of autumn for many, the flurry of visitors, costumes and celebrations can also mean an increased risk of minor accidents that could lead to damage around the house.
If you’re planning a Halloween party or getting ready for trick-or treaters, dive into our ultimate guide for preventing common seasonal slip-ups. Here, you will discover how to avoid any unexpected costs and ensure your home insurance protects you from unexpected bumps, bangs or broken broomsticks.
Common Accidental Damage at Halloween
While we naturally expect some extra mess around Halloween, it’s the sudden, costly accidents that can catch homeowners out making accidental damage protection a key consideration.
Spilled Drinks
If you’re hosting a ghostly gathering, the combination of guests and high spirits could mean an accidental spill. Spilling a glass of red wine onto your sofa, carpet or light-coloured rug could mean a costly clean. The price of a professional carpet clean for a medium-sized room can quickly add up and if the damage is extensive, you may even need to replace the item entirely.
Smashed Valuables
In crowded party settings, it takes only a quick movement or a passing costume to knock a display table and send your cherished vase, lamp, or even a glass coffee table crashing to the floor. Sudden, unforeseen breakages like this can be costly to replace.
Candles
Be mindful of fabric and open flames; a flowing costume, paper decoration or spooky fabric could easily catch and smoulder if it brushes against a candle or slips from where it’s hung. Melting wax can also leave stubborn marks on furniture or carpets, and even a small knock could lead to an unexpected mess or costly clean-up.
The Accidental Damage Cover Check
Many people assume their standard home insurance covers every type of mishap, but that's not always the case. Accidental damage cover can be an optional add-on, particularly for contents insurance.
Trick-or-Treat Hazards
The risks aren’t just inside our homes. The sheer volume of “trick-or-treaters”, combined with the darker nights can make the spooky season a time considering the outside of your home matters too. Taking a few simple precautions can help you enjoy the halloween festivities to the full.
Opportunistic incidents are more likely to occur when it's dark and homeowners are distracted. In fact, home theft claims have been known to increase over Halloween. In light of this, police constabularies often urge Halloween revellers to "keep any tricks within the law."
Candles in Pumpkins
If you intend to place a lit candle inside your carved pumpkins, remember that the fire risk isn’t limited to indoors. A sudden gust of wind or an excited trick-or-treater could easily topple a pumpkin, and the open flame might catch on nearby decorations, wooden decking or, worse, a flammable costume. Just like inside the home, it’s important to keep flames safely contained and away from anything that could ignite.
Party tricks and mischief
Minor mischief, like egging or party string 'tricks', is an unfortunate reality of the season. The nuisance of being ‘tricked’ lies in the clean-up. Unfortunately, sticky, coloured party string can stain white doors and window frames, and the acid in eggs can damage exterior paintwork. In fact, year-on-year Google searches for 'egging' and 'egged' spike considerably over October and November.
Front-Door Distraction
A steady stream of trick-or-treaters can be a major distraction. The risk here is that the constant ringing of the doorbell and interaction at the front of your home can make you less vigilant elsewhere. Be aware of any unsecured back doors or other external spots like the shed or garage.
Tips to Keep Your Home Safe this Halloween
By taking some simple measures, you can focus on enjoying the spooky season knowing your home is protected.
Install security lighting - If you don’t have it already, now is a good time to install motion-sensor security lights on your property to help guide trick-or-treaters or party guests, safely to your door, as well as to deter unwanted visitors.
Clear your front path - Clear paths and steps can help with preventing trips and falls. Ensure that the routes trick-or-treaters, or party guests take to your front door are clear of trailing wires, slippery leaves or excessive decorations that could pose a trip or slip hazard.
Lock up your doors - Before the evenings draw in, ensure your back gate and back door are securely locked. If you have an outbuilding or shed, check this is locked too. This can minimise the chance of any thieves entering via the back garden while you're distracted by trick-or-treaters at the front door.
Light your pumpkins - Whilst you're illuminating your pumpkins this spooky season, you could opt for battery-powered LED lights instead of traditional tea candles to avoid the fire risk. This simple swap significantly reduces the chance of a fire emergency starting on your doorstep.
Secure your decor - If you’re celebrating Halloween with some outdoor decorations or lights, make sure they are secured correctly. Late October weather can be unpredictable and falling decorations could cause damage to your property or garden.
Prep your party - If you are hosting a party, remember that accidents are most common when things get busy. Before guests arrive, secure fragile or expensive valuables out of reach of high-traffic areas. If you have anything you're worried about breaking, it’s best to store it away for the night.
Don't let a Halloween fright turn into a financial one. Be sure to check your home insurance policy to see if you have accidental damage cover. If you don’t have cover, already be sure to compare your options to ensure you're getting the best deal.
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As well as writing for Churchill and Privilege insurance websites, Karen’s CV includes working with M&S, Debenhams, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and John Lewis. With over 20 years of editorial experience for big household names she leads a talented content team with a focus on simplifying personal finance for everybody.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
Helen’s our resident home insurance expert, as the former Head of Home Insurance at Compare the Market. She's also experienced with car insurance and pet insurance from her previous roles across commercial, partnerships and as a freelance consultant, working with more than 100 insurers across a variety of insurance products.
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What our expert says...
Repair or replacement costs for Halloween mishaps can quickly add up. If you’re hosting a party or putting up outdoor decorations, take a moment to check your home insurance policy. It’s important to know what’s covered, as protection for these types of seasonal accidents isn’t always included as standard.