Homeowners advised to check insurance cover is adequate

Officials are warning consumers to make sure that they have adequate insurance cover in place as the cold weather sets in. The cold snap across the UK has already caused chaos, and with weather conditions set to get worse many people could find that it affects their homes as well as causing problems such as traffic issues.

Officials have warned that as the winter sets in homeowners need to make sure that they have the right insurance cover and the right level of cover in place in order to protect themselves against the damage that can be caused by freezing temperatures and heavy snow. Claims are said to shoot up at this time of year, and for those that find their cover is not adequate – or who have no cover in place – the financial implications can be huge.

Frozen pipes and broker down boilers are amongst the more common problems that can affect households at this time of the year. If homeowners do not have any insurance, do not have the right cover, or do not have an adequate level of cover, in place then getting these problems sorted out could be extremely costly. However, with the right cover homeowners can simply arrange for repairs to be carried out through their insurance provider.

Another thing that winter brings with it is the dark nights, making it easier for thieves to gain entry to houses without being spotted. Homeowners should therefore also ensure that they have the right level of cover in place to protect them in the event of damage and theft caused by burglars.

With Christmas coming up many thieves will be on the lookout for expensive gifts that households have received or have bought to give to others. Make sure that if you have valuable gifts in the home you are adequately insured, as otherwise you may not be able to claim for them.

Tags: right cover, Insurance, pipes, cold weather, traffic issues

Leaks cost Brits £1.8bn

Leaking water is causing billions of pounds worth of damage in our homes each and every year.

New research shows that around 3.3 million homes are affected by leaks on an annual basis with the costs running to £1.8 billion.

Halifax Home Insurance has carried out a study into the problem and found that the most common sources of a household leak are washing machines, dishwashers, burst water tanks, pipes, showers and baths.

Homeowners are being advised to make sure that they check appliances regularly to ensure that any potential problems are spotted early.

“Changing fashions in the housing market have increased the likelihood of homes being damaged by leaking water,” explained Vicky Emmott, senior underwriter at Halifax Home Insurance.

“The trend for homes with multiple bathrooms and the current vogue for wet rooms have significantly increased the risk of water leaks and damage in the home.

“Older properties are vulnerable as a result of corroding pipes, which face increasing strain as Britain endures ever more extreme fluctuations in temperature as a result of global warming,” she added.

Halifax says that 36 per cent of British homeowners are running the risk of losing out financially as they do not have building insurance that covers water damage.

It is vital that homeowners take out insurance to cover themselves against potential disasters, particularly with increasingly unpredictable weather affecting the UK.

Tags: water leaks, billion.halifax home insurance, Leaking, pipes, Insurance, multiple bathrooms, Washing machine, homeowners

Prepare your home for snow storm

The UK is about to be hit by a bout of severe weather, with homeowners being warned to properly prepare their houses.

The Met Office has forecast up to seven inches of snowfall in the country over the coming days and Halifax Home Insurance says that we should all be insulating our pipes.

If the weather predictions are correct, temperatures could drop to as low as -10 degrees Celsius, potentially leading to burst pipes.

The most common place for this kind of incident is said to be the loft, meaning that when the water thaws and begins leaking it causes maximum damage to the entire house.

“Water from a burst pipe within a loft space can very quickly cause damage to plaster ceilings, wall plaster, kitchen units, electrical wiring and decoration, as well as carpets, beds, electrical items and other contents within a property,” said Vicky Emmot from Halifax.

“So by simply insulating your pipes you can help to protect yourself from unwanted disasters this winter. It is also worth considering how prepared you would be if the worst was to happen.”

Halifax has some tips to avoid a burst pipe disaster, with insulating exposed pipes being the first action to take.

Homeowners are also told to ensure that the water tank is insulated, the loft door is open (if possible) and all external taps are switched off.

Tags: electrical items, Water pipe, Physics, halifax, water thaws