NEW research from Age UK North Yorkshire reveals that over a 10th (15 per cent) of home owners aged 60 and over in Yorkshire have never updated their home contents insurance. This leaves an estimated £3,557 worth of items uninsured per household.

Four fifths (82 per cent) of later life consumers in Yorkshire stated that they did not know that they may need to review their cover to ensure their policy includes new purchases.

Of those, half assumed that new or particularly valuable items would be covered when they renewed their contents insurance.

This confusion is emphasised by additional research showing that over four fifths (85 per cent) of UK consumers struggle to understand the financial products they have.

Yvonne Clark of Age UK North Yorkshire said: “It’s important that customers understand exactly how their home insurance policies work and that they are empowered to take full control of their finances.

“Our research shows that clear guidance on the need to update home contents insurance after purchasing expensive items or renewing a policy is not being received.

“Reviewing contents insurance documents and regularly calculating how much it would cost to replace all home contents can go long a way to helping homeowners make sure their personal belongings are covered at the correct value.”

Age UK North Yorkshire is an appointed representative of Age UK Enterprises LTD and is able to arrange for specialist over 50s insurance for home, travel, motor and motor breakdown together with the Age UK energy package and funeral plans.

Services in the local community include a telephone befriending service, exercise classes, IT training, rehabilitation services, home secretary services and organised leisure activities.