60-second summary
Want a quick guide to covering your contents for special events? Here’s the info in a nutshell.
If you’re planning to spend a lot on Christmas presents, check that your home insurance offers enough cover.
Many insurance providers automatically increase your contents insurance cover during Christmas and for other special events like weddings and milestone birthdays.
Increased cover also applies to other religious holidays like Eid ul-Adha, Hanukkah and Easter.
Don’t assume you will get an automatic seasonal increase. Check your policy and talk to your insurance provider about getting the right level of cover for your special event.
If you’ve been given a particularly expensive item as a gift, find out if you need to add it individually to your policy. This will ensure it’s covered to its full value.
Once the festivities are over, reassess your contents insurance. You may need to increase your level of cover permanently.
Does my home insurance cover Christmas presents?
Christmas presents in your home should be covered by your home contents insurance. But it’s definitely worth thinking about the level of cover you have and if it will be enough.
According to the Bank of England, a typical household in the UK spends around £2,460 in a typical month. But, in the run-up to Christmas and Hanukkah, UK households spend on average £713 more in December. That’s 29% more than in other months.
When it comes to popular Christmas gifts, the biggest increase in spending is on books – 112% more in December compared to other months. Purchases of music and video equipment increase by 82%, computers and phones rise 71%, and footwear and clothing go up 52%-53%.
With the average spend on Christmas presents at around £800 in 2024, there's likely to be a few hundred pounds’ worth of gifts in your home. So, it’s worth checking your limits to make sure you have the right cover: with a house full of presents, your home is extra attractive to criminals.
Is it possible to increase home contents cover over the holidays?
Many insurance providers automatically increase their contents insurance limits over the festive period as standard. This is usually for 30 days either side of Christmas. But not all do.
Check your policy to find out if you get this extra cover included automatically. It’s often referred to as ‘special events’ or ‘celebration cover’ in the contents section of your policy. Have a look if you’re not sure.
What about increased cover during other religious holidays?
Increased cover isn’t just for Christmas. Most insurance providers will automatically increase your home insurance for other religious holidays too, like Eid-ul-Adha, Hanukkah and Easter.
It’s worth calling your insurance provider to discuss your policy so that you can vary the cover amount at the right time of year for you.
Is increased cover just for presents?
The increase in cover isn’t just for presents. Your home insurance may cover any extra contents in your home including festive food, decorations and cash gifts.
Most policies cover loss of freezer food as standard. So, if there’s an unexpected power failure, you may be able to recoup the cost of any spoiled party food defrosting in your freezer.
Can I vary the amount of cover at other times?
Yes, you should be able to vary the amount of cover at other times. In fact, some providers will automatically increase your cover for other family celebrations like a wedding, civil ceremony, milestone birthday or anniversary.
Check with your insurance provider about increasing your level of cover. You may need to list valuables worth more than the single item limit individually. This is the most your insurance provider will pay out for a single item. Take into account things like an engagement ring, which could easily exceed this limit.
When you get a contents insurance quote with Compare the Market, we ask you to add any items with an individual value above £1,500 in the ‘specific items’ section.
Top tips for keeping your home safe at Christmas
Opportunistic burglars will look for signs that your home is full of festive goodies – from enticing parcels under the tree glimpsed through a window, to empty TV or computer packaging left out for collection.
Follow our top tips to deter thieves from targeting your home at Christmas:
Don’t keep presents under the tree if visible from outside – at the very least shut your curtains or blinds at night.
Keep the lights on when you’re away from home.
Wait for recycling collection day before leaving packaging and boxes outside your home.
Use an outdoor socket or battery-operated LEDS for external lights – don’t leave a window ajar with the cable threaded through.
Don’t leave notes on your door for delivery drivers – you can usually arrange delivery times when you place your order online.
What else should I think about when I compare home insurance providers?
Although all home insurance policies usually offer similar cover, they can have different terms and conditions. It’s always worth taking a close look at your policy to make sure you have the cover that you need. If it’s not clear, give your insurance provider a call.
Why not compare home contents insurance with Compare the Market today and find the right cover for you.
Compare home insuranceFAQs
Am I covered against accidental damage during the festivities?
Most home insurance policies don’t include accidental damage cover as standard.
However, you can usually add the extra cover for an additional fee. This could protect you against unexpected festive mishaps: from drink spills and candle burns ruining the carpet to damaging kitchen worktops while preparing Christmas dinner.
Should I update my contents insurance after receiving Christmas presents?
If your insurance provider increases your cover over Christmas, it will only be temporary. So, if you’ve received particularly expensive Christmas presents, you may need to update your regular contents insurance and increase it permanently.
Items worth more than the single-item limit will need to be listed individually to make sure they’re fully covered. It may increase the price of your premium, but at least your gifts will be insured to their full value.
If I go away for Christmas, will it affect my home insurance?
It depends on how long you’re going to be away. If it’s a short Christmas break, your home insurance shouldn’t be affected.
But if you’re planning to be away for a month or so, check with your insurance provider. Some home insurance policies will only cover an empty property for up to 30 days. If you’re going away for longer, you may need unoccupied house insurance.
Anna’s all about delivering fantastic insurance products at a great price. She cuts through the jargon and finds what’s most important and worth your hard-earned money.
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