Garden threat

Mortgage holders are set to spend £56 million on their gardens in the next three months.

That is according to research by insurance firm esure, which says that 92 per cent of us who have a garden are preparing to invest some time and money into it.

One in ten of us is prepared to fork out over £500 and esure is warning that by doing so, we are increasing the value of our household contents.

The firm warns that as we approach the longest day of the year (June 21st) our new possessions could be at risk of being stolen from the garden and if we do not have adequate insurance cover we may be forced to foot the bill.

The summer months are a peak time for garden theft but esure says that 52 per cent of homeowners have never even considered improving the security of their garden.

In addition, many people regularly leave items such as bikes and lawnmowers outside over night, tempting thieves to strike.

Nikki Sellers, head of home insurance for esure, says that many people will be spending more time outside as the weather improves but this could leave them open to theft.

“It is all too easy to retire inside as it gets darker, leaving items unsecured in our gardens or sheds unlocked as easy targets for opportunistic thieves,” she said.

“But these investments need protecting. It is imperative that everyone should get in to the habit of safely tidying away and locking up their garden gear whilst also taking reasonable care of securing their household perimeters.”

Homeowners are advised to lock up all valuable items that are left in the garden and get insurance that covers the contents of the garden.

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Council Tax rebates

Millions of people may have been paying too much council tax due to rushed housing valuations which were carried out in 1993.

Many households are in line to receive thousands of pounds, with hundreds of people having already been given their windfall.

The news could go a long way to helping many homeowners who are struggling to keep up mortgage repayments as a result of rising interest rates.

Some homeowners have received thousands of pounds in back payments and campaigners are urging more people to see if they too are entitled to have their council tax cut.

It is possible to find out if you are paying too much council tax by making a simple online check.

Campaigners say that the problems arose when the Conservative government worked to quickly replace the hugely unpopular poll tax.

As many as 60 per cent of council tax valuations were carried out by estate agents, with a large number being labelled ’second gear valuations’, because agents would simply drive past a house and allocate it a band.

As a result, many people are now paying too much or too little council tax, with large discrepancies between homes on the same street.

Homeowners are being warned that their council tax could just as easily rise as a result of a revaluation.

Tags: rise, gear valuations, finance, windfall.The news, england, Council, Valuation Office Agency, gear