Joining a neighbourhood watch can cut the cost of your home insurance by 5%
Joining the community scheme is just one of the ways you can cut down your home insurance bills. Here are some other tips you can use to help you save
YOU can save up to five per cent on your home insurance if you join a neighbourhood watch scheme.
The volunteer organisation works with local authorities to make communities safer and getting involved in your local group could shave money off your insurance bill.
Home insurance covers what's inside your house like your white goods or your tech in case you are burgled or if your things get damaged.
How much you pay for house insurance depends on your address and the value of the things you're insuring.
If you live in an area with a higher crime rate then this is likely to push up how much you pay.
An average household pays around £297 a year, according to the latest figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
That means you can save £14.85 a year on your home insurance if you join up to the scheme.
Okay, so on it's own it doesn't sound like much, but little savings can all add up.
Consumer affairs expert Kevin Pratt from price comparison site said: "You can often get discounts on your premium if you join a neighbourhood watch, fit and maintain an approved burglar alarm and use a safe for your valuables.
Here are some other tips you can follow to shave money off your home insurance:
Never auto-renew your policy and switch if you have to
Up to 13 MILLION households are being overcharged for their home insurance, simply by renewing their existing policy.
On average, homeowners are being overcharged by £110 a year by falling into the loyalty trap, analysis from Citizens Advice has revealed.
That means they could be paying as much as 70 per cent more than a new customer would be for the same policy.
Never accept the premium that is offered by your current insurer and never auto-renew.
How to cut your home and car insurance bill
You're throwing good money away if you let your insurance premiums auto renew. Here's what you can do to save money.
Shop around: Never accept the premium that is offered by your current insurer and never auto-renew. Use a price comparison site like or to see what deal you can get. If your insurer can't match it, then switch.
Improve security: Adding an imobiliser to your car or an alarm to your home can bring down the price of your premium. Try not to make a claim as the fewer claims you make, the lower your premium will be.
Pay in one go: If you can afford to pay your premium in a lump sum, then do so as you will save money over the course of the year.
Use a price comparison site like or to see what deal you can get. If your insurer can't match it, then switch.
Installing a NSI alarm (National Security Inspectorate) could earn a discount on your premiums too.
There's a list of where you can check your alarm system to see if it will cut down your insurance bill.
"It’s also worth knowing that insurers will increase your premium if you do not have robust locks on your doors and windows," said Kevin.
"You’ll be asked for details when you complete a quote."
Get discounts with multi-policies
Sometimes insurers will give you a multi-policy discount if you take out more than one policy with them.
For example, if you insure your car through one company they might offer you money off a home insurance policy.
Some firms may offer you a discount if you take out home and building insurance with them.
Also if there's something that affects both the building and your possessions, like a fire, it’s often simpler to claim.
Take advantage of offers: Some insurers guarantee to beat any quote by up to ten per cent, on a like-for-like basis.
Pay for the year up front
If you can afford to pay for a year's policy up front then you will end up paying less overall.
Monthly premiums can cost more and there’s usually an extra six per cent charge to pay.
But some insurers will allow payment by instalments for no extra charge so it’s worth shopping around.
At the end of last year Citizens' Advice warned that millions of people are being overcharged by insurance firms when they fall into the loyalty trap.
It said older people are particularly at risk of being hit in the pocket, with 40 per cent of people over 65 having the same policy for more than five years.
That means they could be paying as much as 70 per cent more than a new customer would be for the same policy.
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