A short guide for home insurance while travelling

Posted on: May 15, 2025 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

A short guide for home insurance while travelling

Travelling for vacation can be fun, and it is essential at times. Not only to enjoy vacation vibes, but you may also require travelling for work issues. Whatever the reason for travel, you must ensure that your residential place remains safe and secure with all your belongings throughout the period and beyond.

A reliable comprehensive home insurance plan can help you fulfil your goal. In this context, we can mention that homeowners insurance or property insurance is also relevant in this context. Based on the terms and provisions of the chosen plan, it allows protection coverage against fire, theft, burglary, robbery, perils, vandalism, etc.

If you live in a rented property, then a renters insurance plan will secure your property and belongings.

Theft coverage in home insurance

A standard home insurance plan typically allows theft coverage protection, including damages and losses caused by burglary and robbery, allowing financial protection for the damaged home structure and stolen objects as per the plan provisions.

Such mishaps may occur even in your presence but the risks increase manifold when you are not staying in the insured property. To enjoy more elaborate coverage against such property damages, you need to add additional coverage to your basic plan, which may cover damages caused to your specific valuables and electronic equipment and many more.

Inclusions of theft cover in home insurance

Although the list of inclusions may differ from one insurer to another and the chosen plan variant, some common inclusions are:

1. Burglary:

This involves forced entry into your property by breaking doors, windows, walls, etc.

2. Robbery:

This includes theft and burglary involving either threat of violence or attempted violence.

3. Home damages:

If a thief or robber damages your property by breaking doors, windows, etc., you will receive compensation from your insurer based on the terms of your chosen house insurance policy.

4. Stolen belongings:

Theft coverage home insurance usually offers coverage for the repair and replacement costs of all your stolen belongings based on the terms of the plan chosen.

Occasional coverage

These are coverage provisions that are not included under the standard norms of home insurance, but depend upon the discretion of the insurance company concerned and the terms of the specific plan:

1. Valuable belongings:

A basic home plan may maintain certain specific limitations regarding the coverage for the damages and losses of valuable items like electronics, jewellery, collectable objects, etc.

2. Items openly left:

Certain home insurance policies may exclude damages or losses of objects left in plain sight like a laptop kept openly accessible on your study table.

3. Theft from vehicles:

A standard home plan usually does not allow coverage for objects stolen from your vehicle parked on your property.

To enjoy such extensive and detailed coverages, you must inquire and research well in detail before finalising your choice.

Add-ons and riders

To ensure extensive coverage protection you can add additional add-ons or riders to your base plan. Some of the common add-ons include the following:

1. Add-on for jewellery and valuables:

Jewellery is a very valuable possession in any Indian household and its loss is regarded to be quite significant. Jewellery is very handy and difficult to prove its real ownership. Therefore, this makes it prone to much-increased risks and dangers.

However, with jewellery and valuables protection coverage, you will receive compensation from your respective insurer in case of loss based on the provisions of the plan selected.

2. Add-on cover for electronics:

Nowadays most Indian households possess multiple electronic gadgets, some of which are really pricey, like laptops, high-end multimedia equipment, etc. To ensure complete protection, it is best to add an electronics protection add-on to your basic home plan. This coverage will help you to ensure the protection of your expensive gadgets and prevent unnecessary drainage of your hard-earned money.

3. Personal property coverage:

This is a special coverage that aids in protecting your belongings in case they get damaged or stolen outside your insured property.

Preventing theft and burglary in your absence

You may need to leave your house unattended for several days, during your vacation or any work-related trip. You cannot carry every piece of valuables with you or keep them in a bank locker or safe deposit box. That is not a very practically viable solution to protect your house and belongings.

There are no specific home insurance for travellers. However, if you keep your eyes and ears open you can prevent any undesired activities in your home during your absence and enjoy your vacation to the fullest or focus on your work well. Some of the commonplace measures that can help you ensure the security of your property and belongings include the following:

1. Take proper security measures:

Whether you maintain a home plan or not, you have to be keen on securing your property in the best possible manner. No negligence is entertained here. Never keep your keys hidden near the front door. Try to use gates, dowels, or pins for enhanced security. Deadbolts and security alarms are also welcome ideas.

2. Proper storage:

Always keep your vital documents like birth certificates, identity proofs, etc. stored well in secured places that are fireproof and waterproof, and never easily accessible.

3. Check policy terms:

Read your policy fine print well to know the vacant home clauses. Usually, these plans cover up to 30 days. However, in case you need to keep your home vacant uninterruptedly for more than that period, you must consult your insurer before proceeding.

4. Install a home security system:

Having a reliable home security system is always a great idea. This includes security cameras, motion sensors, windows & door sensors, alarm systems, access control systems, etc. Having such quality security systems may also earn you discounts on your home plan.

5. Purchase add-ons:

To ensure and enjoy enhanced insurance protection coverage, it is best to purchase additional riders or add-ons in exchange for an additional premium. But this premium amount proves to be negligible compared to the amount of security it offers.

6. Active smoke detectors:

If you have active smoke detectors, you will be alerted immediately in case of any suspicious activity. Moreover, you may even enjoy reduced and discounted premium payable rates.

7. Survey well to negate any glitches:

You must survey your home well and critically for any gaps and glitches, especially before undertaking a trip. Ensure that all the equipment is active and well-functional.

8. Renters policy:

If you plan to rent out your property during your prolonged absence, always inform your insurer about the development well in advance. To enjoy insurance protection you may need to purchase a rental dwelling plan or a landlord policy. If you are planning to rent it through Airbnb, ensure to maintain adequate home insurance coverage, without relying solely on the policy terms of Airbnb.

9. Review your plan:

Try to review your plan at regular intervals, especially after significant additions to your belongings, ensuring that the coverage amount remains adequate under challenging circumstances.

10. Install strong outdoor lights:

Burglars prefer dark spots and try to avoid well-lit locales. Ensure that both the front and back of your house are well-lit always.

11. Contact delivery services:

Try to avoid ordering right before your trip as you will not be able to accept the delivery. Contact your post office for any redacted mail.

12. Keep your trip a secret:

Never announce your ongoing trip on social media. This attracts a lot of undesired attention and people get notified that your house is empty, making the situation all the more vulnerable. This is not at all desirable. Upload all pictures and videos after you have returned.

Conclusion

We have discussed in detail, how a home insurance or property insurance can act as a protective shield to damages and losses happening to your property and belongings when you are out on a trip. This will add an edge to the existing security system.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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