Tips and guides

If you used a mortgage to buy your home, your provider will have insisted you have buildings insurance before transferring any money to your solicitor. However, this alone is just one of two types of home insurance, and to make sure you’re fully protected, you’ll need both buildings insurance and contents insurance if you own your own home.

When it comes to protecting your home from burglars, having a good home security system can help. If your home doesn’t currently have an alarm and you don’t have any security measures in place, you could be up to five times more likely to be targeted.

If you’re trying to choose between getting a brand-new, a nearly new or a used car, there are lots of things to consider. In this guide, we’ll help you choose the option that suits you best.

If your car is due its MOT check soon, you might want to give it the once-over yourself to see if you can spot anything that needs fixing. Rectifying any issues before having your car MOT checked could increase your car’s chances of passing the test, saving you time and money in the long term.

If you own a car, but don’t want to insure it because you aren’t going to be able to drive it for an extended period of time, you need a statutory off-road notification (SORN). Plus, you can’t let your insurance policy lapse or you’ll be breaking the law and will be fined.

Don’t make your garden an open invitation for thieves. Bikes, lawnmowers, ornaments, tools, plants and garden furniture are the most commonly stolen items, but thieves will often steal whatever they can get their hands on.