How to keep your home and contents covered while you're on holiday

Planning a trip? Whether it’s 3 days or 30, if what’s in your suitcase is worth more than the holiday itself, your travel insurance might not cut it. Here’s how taking a good look at your home and contents insurance can help keep your valuables and property protected while you travel.

1. Do your insurance policy diligence

   Reading your home and/or contents insurance policy and the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) carefully in the lead-up before you leave is the perfect place to start for holiday peace of mind. To kick you off, we’ve preempted some common questions about how your policy could change when you hit the road and nobody’s at home. 

   Does going on holiday affect my home insurance?
   Oh, yes. Your policy may include a condition that if the insured address is unoccupied for a certain number of days limits and exclusions may apply to your policy. Also, you might have to pay an unoccupied home excess if you make a claim for loss or damage from an insured event during that time.

   What does it mean for a home to be unoccupied?
   Insurance providers differ in their definition of unoccupancy, but for Honey policyholders, your home is considered unoccupied if no one has been living in it for more than 60 consecutive days and you did not tell us beforehand that it would be empty. 

   Why do I have to tell my provider I’m going away?
   Telling your provider when you’re going to be away for longer than their unoccupancy limit might be suggested by your insurer as they might need to apply conditions for the safekeeping and security of your home to continue providing cover during this time. Depending on your insurer you might have to meet certain requirements to remain covered, such as having someone collect your mail or mow the lawn.

2. Know what contents are covered, wherever they are

   If you have contents insurance, check the PDS and your Certificate of Insurance to ensure you know exactly the kinds of items that you’ll be able to claim on inside and outside of the home, should something happen to them.

   All providers are different, but with Honey, you can choose to add an optional benefit onto your policy to cover individual or grouped items ‘away from home’ for loss or damage anywhere in Australia or New Zealand (and while you’re travelling between those places). If there are items you would like covered for their full replacement value, be sure to look up the PDS for item limits, and if required, let your provider know what valuables you’d like listed on your policy.

3. Lock. up. everything.

   For your home and your valuables, taking the necessary measures to keep them safe could save you in the long run. A safe (whether you use the hotel safe, or invest in one for your home) is a good way to keep precious valuables and documents out of the hands of thieves, or from being damaged or destroyed by unexpected events. Don’t forget to ensure you lock all of your doors and windows.

4. Pack the essentials

   Not just the toiletries. Even while you’re away, there are some items you should keep on hand (or saved on your smartphone), in case of unexpected events or emergencies. For example, to access your Certificate of Insurance online, Honey customers would need their Honey account username and password to log in. To make a claim over the phone, the Honey claims team would ask for the date and details of the incident, and any of the requirements listed here.



A photocopy of your passport is always a safe bet to save yourself any further drama from lost or damaged IDs.

5. Stay in touch

   Staying connected to your home via means of technology could increase your sense of security and peace of mind while you travel. There is a range of smart security devices like cameras, smart doorbells, and intercom systems that allow you to keep an eye on your property when you’re away. For example, Honey’s smart home sensors, offered to eligible Honey home and contents policyholders, can be programmed to send alerts to a phone app when triggered by a rise or fall in your temperature thresholds, water leaks, and motion (doors opening or closing). As long as you’ve got a WiFi connection, you’ll be able to receive the alerts when you’re not at home.

Insurance issued by RACQ Insurance Limited ABN 50 009 704 152, AFSL 233 082 and distributed by Honey Insurance Pty Ltd ABN 52 643 672 628, AFSL 528244. Conditions, limits and exclusions apply. This is general advice only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs and may not be right for you.  Always read the PDS, any applicable SPDS and TMD available at honeyinsurance.com before making any decision.