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"Since your proposal form usually lists your insurers’ minimum security requirements, consumers should read these forms carefully to see if the security arrangements that they have in their home actually comply,” Janse Van Rensburg says.

It is important that consumers understand their security obligations since insurers rely on the security information that clients provide in the proposal form to rate the risk and calculate the premium.

If consumers don’t understand what their security obligations are “they could also examine their policy documents to find out. If still unsure they should contact their brokers or insurers for a proposal form or a clear explanation” advises Janse Van Rensburg.

As a general rule, most insurers’ security requirements includes burglar bars on all opening and louvre-type windows; security gates on all sliding doors, or at least a second lock that is either a key operated locking bolt or locking pin, fitted at a 90 degree angle to the existing door lock; an alarm system linked to a 24 hour control room with an armed reaction unit ; and security gates in front of all opening external doors

In practice, however, there are no fixed rules.

 “The key to getting insurance right is to play open cards with your insurers so that they can underwrite your risk correctly, helping you avoid either under or over insurance” says Janse Van Rensburg.

Insurers’ will make decisions on their assessment of the risk, based on the information provided by their clients. Some insurers might even be willing to relax certain security requirements if they deem others to have compensated for them.

Ultimately, however, since “the decision is theirs they should be supplied with as much detail as possible” Janse Van Rensburg adds.

This duty to disclose accurately does not end with the proposal form but continues as long as the policy lasts. This means that “should any of your security arrangements change, you should immediately advise your insurer as any changes will affect the terms of your cover” he warns.

For example, if builders are appointed at your property or complex, consumers should alert their insurers to the additional risk. Then, depending on how well the builders were supervised, the insurer would decide whether or not to tighten terms or increase premiums according to the changed nature of the risk.

In the case of builders most insurers would exclude or limit theft cover to forcible and violent entry for the duration of the building operations if this restriction was not already built in to the policy. In this case, policy holders should ensure that their valuables are locked away safely to avoid petty theft as this will not be covered until the builders depart.

Keeping quiet and not informing your insurer of even temporary changes that might affect your risk profile may result in claims being rejected. 

To avoid claims rejection Janse Van Rensburg advises consumers to  keep a copy of their proposal forms so that from time to time they can check what has changed and identify what new information should be disclosed.

“Also, do not simply assume that an opening window high up on a wall or a sliding door onto a fenced back garden is inaccessible and then leave it unprotected.

“If this information is disclosed to the insurer, the insurer can decide to accept the risk or insist on security. If the insurer accepts the risk without any security requirement and burglars then gain entrance through this unprotected window or sliding door, the claim will in all likelihood be accepted.”

Where an alarm is part of a home’s security, it is your responsibility to ensure that it is kept in proper working order and armed whenever the premises are left unoccupied or unattended.

“Forgetting to activate the alarm or leaving your home in the care of people who don’t know how to operate it may result in the claim being rejected” says Janse Van Rensburg.

If, on the other hand, a signal fails to go through to the armed response company but you can prove that the alarm was armed, an insurer is likely to be sympathetic to a claim. Such critical proof is usually stored in your alarm key pad.

“If your key pad can’t produce an activation report, consumers should get their armed response companies to install one” advises Janse Van Rensburg.

In short, taking all the steps required to ensure that your premises complies with your insurer’s security requirements is the best way to avoid disappointment at the claims stage.