Home Insurance protects you against the risk of things happening suddenly which nobody can expect - a fire, flood or your contents being stolen for example.

Your home and its contents will naturally deteriorate over time and through use - this is usually called 'wear and tear'. If you want to repair or replace something in your home because of this, it won't be covered under your Home Insurance policy. You can find out exactly what you are – and aren't – covered for in your policy document.

Because no insurance policy will cover you for general wear and tear, it’s important to check your home regularly for anything which may deteriorate over time. And as things get older, you might need to think about replacing them before they break down or wear out.

Read our five top tips on looking after your home and preventing wear and tear.

1. If your roof is damaged and left unrepaired it could leak into your attic and further into your house, causing mould and rot. Check it from the outside by looking for cracked or lifted tiles and on the inside by looking out for water spots, discolouration or sagging. If you have a flat roof, this is particularly important as they're more prone to leaks.
   
2. Get your boiler serviced once a year to ensure you remain covered by your insurance for any breakdowns. With John Lewis Home Insurance, boiler breakdowns can be covered under our optional Home Emergency Cover, so add this to your policy for peace of mind in the event of a break down.
   
3. Ensure your gutters and downspouts are correctly attached to your house and directing water where they should be to avoid water soaking the brickwork.
   
4. If you've recently had any building work done, it's important to check that the work has been completed to the expected level. Issues caused by poor workmanship like badly fitted conservatory panels, poorly laid flat roofs and loose guttering will not be covered by your Home Insurance policy.
   
   If you spot any problems, always go back to your workman straight away to get them fixed.
   
5. Make regular checks of things like door handles, hinges and locks to ensure they're working correctly and aren't showing any signs of wear. Keep hinges and locks working by lubricating with oil and regular cleaning will help extend the life span of your door handles.

Remember that with any buildings or structural work, if you're unsure of anything please seek advice from a professional tradesperson.

How can John Lewis Home Insurance help?

While no insurance policy will cover your home or it's contents for general wear and tear, John Lewis Home Insurance can help protect it should something unexpected happen.

We offer optional Accidental Damage cover for both buildings and contents so if your pet knocks over your prized vase or you have a DIY mishap, you're covered. Plus, we offer Unlimited Buildings and Contents Cover and will protect your valuables up to £15,000 per item - to a total of £30,000.

Find out more about John Lewis Home Insurance