To ask a super boring question about UPVC windows and insurance

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Definitely BU here as it is The Most Boring Thing Ever.

Moving into a new build in 2 weeks and sorting out insurance. Me and DP just had an argument over this so please advise.

The windows and locks we will have are like the one shown, 2/3 handles in each room. DP says for insurance purposes every window handle must be kept locked at ALL times, and if it is not locked - not just clicked shut and 'locked' (still inaccessible from outside) but properly locked with the key - the insurance will be invalidated.

Is this right? I'm questioning this for two reasons. 1, surely that's a huge faff locking and unlocking windows with those tiny little keys constantly.
2, the main one, surely it's a fire risk? Usually (like in our current house or at my mum's) you're only given 4 or 5 window keys so not enough to have one in each room. What if you're trapped in a room where the windows are locked and there is a fire at the door. Can't get out the window, can't get out the door? I know it's unlikely but I find that idea really scary!

So should they be clicked and 'locked' that way, or actually fully locked with a key?

DP says for insurance purposes every window handle must be kept locked at ALL times, and if it is not locked - not just clicked shut and 'locked' (still inaccessible from outside) but properly locked with the key - the insurance will be invalidated.

Has he got this from an insurance policy booklet?

@Laiste I don't know where he's got it from, I can't find any info on it online.

I dont know re insurance but DP is a builder & his answer was .. ". how can you open them from outside even if they arent locked" ( i have eliminated the standard builders sweary words from that sentence). Probably not helping your argument but there you go.

It will say in your policy wording. You can usually keep them unlocked if they are inaccessible (top floor and away from flat roof or bins etc that you could climb up) and definitely if you are in the same room so you can keep your window open in your bedroom overnight for example

I've always thought you must keep them locked with the key and this is what I do. If you are broken into and they jemmy the window open the insurance company might be able to tell if the window was locked with the key. Or they might not. I have no idea.

Door locks is another thing to check. The small print in our policy stated a certain type of mortice (sp?) lock on every external door AND secondary door if there is one.

By opening from the outside I meant like older windows you can sort of prise them open even if they're shut, if that makes sense. We used to always do it at my Nana's house if we'd turned up to visit and she'd gone out, us kids would climb in a window and hide to surprise her when she returned home

I would say always read all the fine print in your own policy, or read them online before buying . I went for a cheap home insurance one year and when the policy arrived I found it said that all windows must be locked with a key. I didn't think that was practical, so I cancelled the policy within the cooling off period and went for a more expensive company, but one who have a reputation for not nit-picking on claims. I also had to get agreement that our patio door locks met their standard though as they were slightly different to the description. The wording changes so frequently you do have to check every year though.
If you're moving into a new build I suggest that you tell them you want a separate key for every window, which they should be able to give you.