May Holidays: How to Protect Your Home and Finances While Away
May holidays bring flooding, fires, and pests to Russian country homes
The May holidays are a time when most Russians traditionally leave home—heading to dachas, traveling, or enjoying nature. But unoccupied homes become vulnerable to a range of threats, and even a stay in the countryside can bring unpleasant surprises. To avoid turning your break into financial losses and stress, it's worth taking precautions in advance—including financial safeguards.
According to experts at Rosgosstrakh, over 40% of claims filed by the company's clients for country homes during last year's May holidays were linked to property damage from natural events. This year, the insurer's analysts predict a sharp increase in such cases—largely due to "high water" risks. April and May mark the peak of snowmelt, and this winter's record snowfall across Russian regions, combined with heavy rains, has set the stage for flooding. Poorly maintained drainage systems or missing foundation aprons can allow meltwater to seep into basements or beneath ground-floor flooring. To reduce risks, experts recommend checking drainage and pump equipment a few weeks before the holidays. If your home is in a low-lying area, prepare sandbags for emergency placement at doorways.
The second most common—and most costly—risk, especially in private housing, is fire. Last year, fire-related claims during the May holidays surged by nearly 9 percentage points compared to the previous year. May fires typically fall into two categories: faulty wiring and short circuits, or grass and trash burns, along with grill flames that can quickly ignite dry vegetation and spark large-scale blazes in minutes. To prevent such incidents, exercise extreme caution with open flames—and keep an eye on neighbors, too: in windy conditions, sparks from their property can travel. Rosgosstrakh has handled numerous cases where a single grass fire destroyed multiple adjacent homes.
Other top risks in private housing include falling objects (accounting for 8% of last year's claims), malicious acts by third parties, and theft (6% of claims). Break-ins, forced plastic windows, and burglaries target not just valuables but also landscaping equipment (trimmers, generators) and construction materials.
May also sees increased activity from pests—rodents and even foxes—that can invade properties or outbuildings, chewing through wiring, damaging furniture, or ruining ventilation systems in search of food.
