Do I have to keep my home in "as new" condition for my policy to be valid?

No. We realise that even the best maintained home will suffer from some degree of wear and tear over time just through normal everyday use. But we do ask you to maintain your home in good condition to try and minimise the need for you to have to make a claim for loss or damage; or to keep the cost of any loss or damage as low as possible. We have a definition of "good condition" in the PDS, and it includes things like: keeping your home structurally sound, keeping it safe for guests who may visit, and keeping it free from pest infestations.