New Year: It’s time to review your insurances
December 3, 2025Whether you are a homeowner, landlord, or property investor, a New Year can bring a host of new prospects and opportunities. While it might not be “all change” on the stroke of midnight, there is still a lot that might have happened since you last reviewed the insurance that safeguards your home, car and even travel.
As you review whether your insurance policies are still offering the most appropriate protection, it’s worth considering just a few of the changes that might affect the cover you currently need.
Please note this is not an exhaustive list, and owners of second homes and caravans, as well business owners, are also recommended to review their cover to ensure they still have the most appropriate protection.
Alterations and renovations
If a building has been altered or renovated in any way since the last insurance renewal, rebuilding costs will almost certainly have increased. Not only is this likely to mean an increase in the total building sum insured, but it might also materially affect an insurer’s risk assessment of the property and the premiums you need to pay.
For that reason, it is imperative to inform your insurer about material alterations and renovations – unless you have done so, your insurer might later reject any claim you make.
High value items
It is not only building works that might lead to an increased sum insured. If you, your partner, or other members of the household acquire additional jewellery, works of art, or other collectables, remember that items of value may need to be identified separately to your insurer, with each item having an individual total sum insured.
These changes in circumstances might be especially relevant to individuals of high net worth.
Travel insurance
In your annual planning for the year ahead, have you managed to sneak in any additional holidays – an ocean cruise or a break for winter sports, for instance? Perhaps you’ve added a destination beyond the European limits covered by the annual travel insurance you had the foresight to arrange?
In any event, you may want to review the insurance arrangements you have in place to ensure thorough peace of mind for the travel you have planned for the coming year.
Landlord insurance
If you are a landlord, you might want to review your current landlord insurance policy for:
- any alterations or modifications to the let property;
- any change in the types of tenants you are targeting;
- whether the property currently stands empty and in need of unoccupied property insurance;
- any change of use.
Motor insurance
Finally, spare a thought for that annual renewal of your motor insurance. Because it’s such a legal necessity, you might be tempted to renew it out of hand without a second thought.
But you’re likely to find it worthwhile to double-check that the current policy remains valid. For example, have you changed your vehicle or vehicles, or added/removed any drivers?
Do it today
If the review of any of your current insurance policies gives rise to questions or queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us here at Alan Blunden Insurance Brokers on 01702 826060. We’d be delighted to help!