Insurance news
Millions claimed for storm repairs
22 January, 2007
Last week’s storms which caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to people’s homes could only be the tip of the iceberg, with warnings of more to come, yet 36 per cent of homes still remain uninsured
Recent research from Abbey has found that up to 620,000 home insurance claims are made each year for storm-related damage alone. Each comes in at around £522 per household, which when totalled up could cost £324million across the country by the end of the year.
Homeowners need to check that they are fully covered by both contents and building insurance and that it is comprehensive enough to cover any storm damage that might occur, especially in light of recent events.
In the aftermath of the fierce weather last week, it is worth giving your house the once over –check your roof for loose tiles, and make sure anything on the outside of the building which has been damaged, or could potentially be damaging, has been secured.
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Other worthwhile preparations to combat future bad weather conditions are to cut back any loose branches on trees close to your home which could pose problems, and make sure that you know how to turn the gas, electricity and water if need be. If you are in an area prone to flooding, it might also be a good idea to re-arrange valuables, moving belongings upstairs if necessary to protect them in the event of a flood.
Prasad Shastri, head of insurance marketing at Abbey commented: “Already we have seen a significant increase in storm related claims within the last month – worryingly many people do not protect their homes properly despite the severe costs that storm damage can cause.
“We would advise all homeowners not only to protect their property, but also make sure that they are in a position to limit the costs of any damages that might occur by making sure their home is adequately insured.”
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