23 August 2010

Don’t Leave Homes Vulnerable To Thieves During Summer Months, Urges M&S Money

M&S Money is urging holidaymakers to take measures to secure their homes this summer as a survey finds that more than half of people will leave their properties empty while they are away.

The poll* by M&S Money found that more than two-thirds of Brits (69%) plan to go away from home for at least one night during August. While many householders will leave older children or relatives behind to look after the house, 51% will leave the property empty. Of these almost a quarter (24%) of people admitted they would not ask someone to check their property while away.

Over two thirds (68%) of Brits leave spare keys for their property with neighbours, family, friends, or someone such as a cleaner or dog walker. On average householders will leave two spare sets of keys with someone who doesn’t live in their property, while 17% of people admitted that they have concealed keys outside their property at some point while away from home. 

Andrew Ferguson, M&S Head of General Insurance, said: ‘With August being one of the most popular months for people to go away, we would urge homeowners to take appropriate steps to ensure their home is secure while they enjoy their holidays.

‘It is important that security measures you take are in line with the terms and conditions of your policy to ensure you have adequate cover should the worst happen.’

Tips from M&S Money to help secure your property while you’re away:

• Advise a trusted neighbour or a friend or family member that you are going away
• Ask someone you trust to check on the property while you’re away and clear away any post from the door mat
• Only leave keys with people if it is essential and reclaim these when you return
• Do not hide keys outside your home
• If possible, put your lights on a timer so that it appears that someone is living in your property.
• Cancel any regular deliveries
• Be careful who you tell about your holidays, including messages on social media websites
• Check your home insurance policy as your insurer may have a limit on how long you can leave the property empty.  The M&S policy has a limit of 30 days. If staying away for longer customers are asked to contact us.

Marks & Spencer Home Insurance is available by telephone on 0800 068 2742 and online at www.marksandspencer.com/homeinsurance

ENDS

Notes to Editors

*Figures from OnePoll.  Total sample size was 3000 UK adults aged 17 and over. Fieldwork was undertaken on 18th -22nd June 2010.  The survey was carried out online.

For further information please call the M&S Money press office:

Simon Coughlin on 020 7992 1574
simon.coughlin@mandsmoney.com

M&S Money (the trading name of Marks & Spencer Financial Services) was founded in 1985 as the financial services division of Marks and Spencer Group plc, making 2010 the company's 25th anniversary.

The company is a top-ten credit card provider and the second-largest travel money retailer in the UK.  M&S Money also offers a range of insurance cover, including home insurance and car insurance, as well as loans, savings and investment products.

In November 2004, Marks & Spencer sold M&S Money to HSBC. HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of the HSBC Group, is headquartered in London. The Group serves customers worldwide from around 8,000 offices in 88 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of US$2,364 billion at 31 December 2009, HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations. HSBC is marketed worldwide as ‘the world’s local bank’.

M&S Money has an executive committee comprising an equal number of representatives from HSBC and Marks & Spencer.

M&S Home Insurance policies are provided by AXA Insurance UK plc. Terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations apply. Calls may be monitored and recorded.