Over four and a half million people are expected to spend long periods of time at an overseas property over the coming year, but just 37% of home insurance policies cover a UK house for up to 30 days of it being unoccupied.
Therefore, people returning from an extended trip to their overseas property investment may find themselves left out in the cold after facing hefty bills, should a break in or damage occur during their holiday.
Neil Laird, a home insurance manager stated: ?Anyone who is considering taking an extended trip away from home, therefore leaving it unoccupied, needs to inform their home insurance provider and check that they are still covered by their policy whilst they are away.?
A survey revealed that individuals from the south east (15%) and London (14%) are most likely to take an extended break during 2009.
Dundee residents risking home insurance claims
Meanwhile, those staying at home are not entirely guilt free either. It has been revealed that a significant number of people living in Dundee are risking their home insurance claims by making it obvious to thieves when their properties are empty, police have warned.
Officers in the area dealt with 11 breaks in last week which they claim could have been easily avoided if homeowners have taken a little more care.
They stated that it was clear to burglars that the addresses were empty at the time the offences occurred and there was little in the way of security to stop any trespassers.
Divisional crime prevention officer Colin Brough stated: ?We want all householders to think about their home security and make life as difficult as possible for the opportunist housebreaker.?
Therefore, residents across the city were advised to stay vigilant and be on their guard, as no areas in particular have been targeted.
During the festive period, Tayside police reported a number of families who had their Christmas ruined after thieves broke in to their homes and stole the presents from underneath the tree.
A Wii warning to homeowners
Meanwhile, Dundee, again, has also witnessed another type of insurance increasing, and the criminal in this matter is the Wii console.
William Morrison, who is head of A&E at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee described how there has been a growing number of Wii casualties needing hospital treatments from broken bones to strained muscles.
Insurance firms have also issued a warning to Wii owners, revealing they are dealing with a growing number of claims for accidents caused by gamers.
An insurance firm said: ?Pretty much everyone in our claims team has had one or two Wii-related claims.?
Halifax Home Insurance also confirmed that they too have had insurance claims concerning Wii accidents: ?We have noticed several home insurance claims for television screen damage coming through from people who have accidentally let go of the Wii handset.?
Nintendo responded to the increase in gaming injuries: ?Wii meets all necessary EU safety laws and is perfectly safe to use when used in accordance with the guidelines stated on the Nintendo website, in literature with all hardware and software, and onscreen before and during gameplay.?
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