On Sunday 25 October 2026, the clocks go back by one hour. That extra hour in bed is welcome. The earlier darkness afterwards? Less so – particularly if your home is empty for much of the day.
Published UK insurer claims data consistently shows that theft, burglary and malicious damage claims rise during October and November. In some analyses, theft claims were around a quarter higher across these months, while malicious damage claims rose by roughly a fifth compared with the rest of the year.
There are a few straightforward reasons. Evenings become darker, homes can look unoccupied during working hours, and Halloween and Bonfire Night bring more activity around properties. It does not mean you should spend autumn peering nervously through the curtains. But it is a sensible time to check your home security and review your contents insurance.
Why autumn?
During summer, it can still be light when many people finish work. By late October, darkness arrives much earlier. A home that is empty at 5pm may be more obvious from the street – especially if every light is off and the curtains are open.
The darker evenings can also make it easier for someone to approach a property without being noticed. Sheds, garages and side entrances may receive less attention once the garden disappears into shadow.
Then there are the seasonal occasions. Halloween can bring extra visitors, knocking and mischief. Bonfire Night means more people are out after dark, with fireworks and gatherings taking place close to homes. Most activity is harmless, of course, but claims data has previously shown noticeable increases in malicious damage around both dates.
Some insurer analyses have recorded Halloween as one of the worst days of the year for malicious damage claims. Bonfire Night has also featured heavily in burglary and damage statistics.
So, while autumn does not turn every front garden into a scene from a crime drama, it is a useful reminder to make your home look occupied and keep valuable items properly protected.
Make it look lived-in
A dark, silent home can be an easy one to identify. You can make a difference with a few simple habits:
- Use timer switches or smart plugs to turn lamps on and off at different times.
- Avoid leaving curtains fully open so people can see straight into your rooms.
- Ask a trusted neighbour to collect post if you are away.
- Keep bins, ladders and garden tools secured rather than leaving useful items beside a fence.
- Check that side gates close properly and cannot be lifted from their hinges.
- Avoid advertising holidays publicly while you are away.
Light timers are particularly useful because they create a little variation. Turning the same lamp on at exactly the same time every day is better than leaving the house completely dark, but varying the pattern can look more natural.
If you are renting, these steps are still worth considering. Your landlord may be responsible for the building and fixed security features, but you are usually responsible for taking reasonable care of your own possessions. It is worth checking your tenancy agreement if you are unsure who should deal with locks, windows or external lighting.
Check the basics
Good security does not need to mean turning your home into a fortress. Start with the things that are easy to overlook.
Check that external doors have suitable locks and that window locks work properly. Make sure door frames are sound and that spare keys are not hidden beneath a plant pot or tucked behind the shed. Burglars have seen most of the classic hiding places – and probably a few inventive ones too.
Security lights can help around front paths, side entrances and rear doors. An alarm may also act as a deterrent, particularly when it is visible from outside. Some policies offer a discount for approved alarms or other security measures, but this varies between insurers and may depend on the type of system and how it is maintained.
So, check your policy rather than assuming every alarm leads to a lower premium. If a policy requires an alarm to be set when the property is unoccupied, failing to follow that condition could affect a claim.
You can read more practical suggestions in T&R Direct’s guide to staying safe and potentially saving money on home insurance.
The underinsurance sting
Security may help prevent a loss. But if something is stolen, the other question is whether your contents sum insured is still enough to replace everything.
This is where underinsurance can catch people out.
You may have chosen your contents limit several years ago and renewed automatically ever since. Meanwhile, replacement prices have changed. A television, laptop, bicycle or musical instrument may cost noticeably more to replace than it did when you first arranged the policy.
Contents insurance is generally based on the cost of replacing your belongings – not what you might receive if you sold them second-hand. That means it is worth walking through your home and thinking about what it would cost to replace everything today.
Remember the less obvious items:
- Clothing, shoes and coats
- Kitchen equipment and small appliances
- Bedding, towels and curtains
- Children’s toys and games
- Garden furniture and tools
- Computers, tablets and phones
- Bicycles and sports equipment
- Musical instruments and recording equipment
It may be surprising how quickly the total adds up. A few cupboards, a loft and a shed can contain more value than expected.
T&R Direct’s guide on getting the right level of home insurance cover explains why replacement cost matters when reviewing your buildings and contents insurance.
Check single-item limits
Most contents policies include limits for individual high-value items. These can apply to jewellery, watches, cameras, laptops, bicycles, instruments and other possessions.
For example, your overall contents cover may look sufficient, but a single-item limit could be lower than the replacement cost of your camera or electric bike. You may need to list or specify certain possessions separately.
Take photographs and keep receipts, valuations or other proof of ownership where possible. You can also security-mark valuable items and record serial numbers. Store the information somewhere safe – ideally not only on the laptop you are trying to claim for after a burglary.
Our guide to what to itemise in your home covers high-risk items and why replacement value is more important than resale value.
Do not forget the shed
Outbuildings are often treated as an afterthought. Unfortunately, sheds and garages can contain plenty of attractive targets, including bikes, tools, lawn equipment and children’s toys.
Check exactly how your policy treats:
- Sheds, garages and other outbuildings
- Bicycles kept outside the main home
- Locks and padlocks
- Garden equipment
- Items stored in communal areas
- Theft from an unlocked building
Some policies have separate limits for bikes or contents in an outbuilding. Others may require a particular type of lock or storage arrangement. If your bicycle is worth several hundred pounds – or more – do not assume the standard limit will be enough.
Keep bikes locked even inside a shed, and avoid leaving tools where they can be used to force open another door or window.
Away-from-home cover
A burglary does not always happen at home. Laptops, instruments, phones and bicycles can be lost, damaged or stolen while you are out and about.
If you regularly take valuable belongings to work, university, rehearsals, performances or cafés, check whether your contents policy includes “away from home” cover. This may be optional rather than automatic, and there can be conditions relating to supervision, unattended items and where possessions are left.
A laptop left visible in a car, for example, may not be covered in the same way as one kept with you. A musical instrument left overnight in an unlocked vehicle could also create problems at claim stage.
It is worth checking the details before you need them. You can also review the policy wording and exclusions with our guide to checking the small print.
A five-minute review
Before the clocks change, set aside a few minutes to:
- Test your door and window locks.
- Check outdoor lighting and replace failed bulbs.
- Set up or review light timers.
- Secure your shed, garage, bikes and tools.
- List valuable possessions and check single-item limits.
- Recalculate the cost of replacing your contents.
- Check whether away-from-home cover is included.
- Review any alarm or security requirements.
- Take photographs and note serial numbers.
- Check that your policy still matches your circumstances.
If you own your home, consider whether combined buildings and contents insurance would suit your needs. T&R Direct offers flexible home insurance options, including the potential to combine both types of cover. We work with a panel of leading UK insurers to help you compare suitable options and competitive quotes.
If you rent, your landlord’s insurance will not normally cover your personal belongings. Contents insurance can help protect the things that make your rented home yours – from your laptop and clothes to the washing machine you bought yourself.
The clocks going back is a useful annual prompt. A few sensible security improvements and a proper contents review could make darker evenings feel a little less worrying – and help you avoid discovering a gap in your cover when it is too late. Review your home insurance options with T&R Direct.
About The Author: Penny
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