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Keep your home in shape

Keep your home in shape with our helpful tips

Drawing of the exterior of a house, showing pipework below the ground

Inside

Keep heating at 10°C to prevent pipes freezing and check there's enough loft ventilation. Consider thick curtains to keep in the warmth and make sure the chimney is free of soot. Also make sure any gas fires, boilers and central heating systems are serviced regularly.

Outside

Get the roof checked for loose tiles, fasten doors and gates, check fencing is sturdy and secure any loose items. It's also a good idea to have the guttering checked for blockages and to check your trees for unstable roots.

Please note: This is general advice about keeping your property in shape only. It’s not a reflection of the cover we provide. If you’re an existing customer looking to understand your policy, you can view your policy documents online.

What else can you do?

In winter

Insulate the loft, water pipes and sides of your water tank to stop pipes freezing. You should also know where the water mains stop tap is, in case of an emergency.

If a pipe bursts

Turn off the mains water supply and your heating, and drain the system by running hot and cold taps. Call your insurer for further advice.

Prepare for anything

Create a basic emergency kit (torch/candles/matches, bag of salt/grit, shovel and back-up heating). In emergencies listen to your local radio service for updates.

Print a PDF version of our ‘Keep your home in shape’ tips (PDF, 688 KB)

 

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10% cheaper when you get your quote and buy online. Read about our online price.

 

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Retrieve a quote

Halifax Home Insurance Select underwritten by Lloyds Bank General Insurance Limited.

Halifax is a division of Bank of Scotland plc. Registered in Scotland No. SC327000. Registered Office: The Mound, Edinburgh EH1 1YZ. Bank of Scotland plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 169628.