Marks and Spencer are today launching Holiday Homesafe, a new home insurance product that will help protect people’s homes when they are on holiday by allowing for emergency claims to be made on their behalf.

A trusted and verified keyholder for the property, such as a friend or neighbour, will be allowed to make a claim on the homeowners’ behalf in order that emergencies that compromise the safety and security of the home can be taken care of while the owners are away.

This will enable homeowners the peace of mind that comes with knowing their property will be repaired if necessary, and will ease the responsibility of the keyholder to look after the property without interrupting the holiday.

M & S expect the new cover to be particularly useful for those who do not have emergency repairs cover on their home insurance, as just 20 per cent of contents insurance policies include it as standard and 25 per cent offer it as an optional extra.

With standard home insurance policies that include emergency cover, the owner would have to ensure they were protected while on holiday and then contact the insurer themselves in the event that something went wrong. With M & S Home Safe, owners call to register the dates of their holiday and the details of the key holder before they go away.

Eddie Nott, Deputy Chief Executive of M&S; Money, commented: “Our customers told us they want peace of mind while they’re away from home and to be able to relax in the knowledge that emergencies can be taken care of. M&S; Holiday HomeSafe provides this reassurance for customers and for friends and neighbours who have the responsibility of looking after their home while they are away.”

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