Bonfire Night has become firmly entrenched in British culture. Indeed, since November 5th 1606, a year after Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament, an annual celebration has been held. It was originally designed with a sermon to commemorate the fact his plan was foiled, as well as ensure the act of treason wouldn’t be forgotten.
Nowadays, people across the UK celebrate by holding pyrotechnic displays of exploding fireworks and burning home-made effigies of Guy Fawkes on bonfires. However, although many of the shows offer up some breathtaking sights, there are some commonsense principles which are fundamental to ensuring it’s only the firecrackers that go off with a bang!
In reality, rogue fireworks not only have the potential to physically harm people, but they can also cause untold damage to property. So, whether your home is affected from someone else’s revelry or one of your fireworks has smashed through the neighbour’s car window, it pays to be protected.
Most UK home insurance policies should cover you for accidental damage to buildings and their contents, but it is essential that you check this. Of particular importance, say insurance experts, is to ascertain whether your garden is protected.
According to research carried out in 2007, the collective UK value of outdoor property – sheds, fences and greenhouse, for example – is estimated to be around £5.7 billion. However, 23% of the people questioned stated that none of their garden contents were insured, whilst one in five had no idea if they were covered or not. Since it is a fact that damage is caused to outdoor property every year as a result of fireworks, it makes sense to get yourself insured!
Another vital reason for checking you have the right home insurance policy is personal injury claims. It may not be pleasant to think about, but many people, particularly children, are injured or killed by fireworks. For this reason, it is wise to get a policy that has public liability cover. If you are holding a party or fireworks display, it is worth contacting your insurer to establish if you are covered.
However, fireworks are not the only threat to your property on Bonfire Night. Thieves also use the noisy environment to their advantage and the fact most people are out celebrating, this is the perfect cover for breaking into your home. In order to combat this, there are some precautions you can take. These include making sure all entryways into your house and garden are securely locked and leaving a light on so the home doesn’t look empty. Furthermore, in the eventuality that you are robbed, having the right home contents insurance is a must.
It is vital that you are fully protected in order to avoid disaster striking on Bonfire Night. Whether a stray firework damages your property or you find you have been burgled, it makes sense to be insured. As it goes, there are thousands of
UK home insurance policies to choose from, with many providing sufficient cover to protect you against these issues.
And, at the end of the day, it is good to have peace of mind that your home is protected; instead leaving you to enjoy Bonfire Night without having to worrying about anything else.
Isla Campbell writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
