Insurers may not pay out if poor maintenance leads to damage
Britain’s homeowners are at risk of invalidating their home insurance as a result of poorly maintained properties, according to research from Halifax Home Insurance.
The Halifax Insurance Home Maintenance Monitor revealed 11% of homes are in need of major repairs and 50% require minor works.
Senior claims manager Martyn Foulds said: “By failing to properly maintain the property, homeowners risk invalidating their insurance policy, potentially running up hefty bills if something goes wrong as a result of neglect.
“We all invest a considerable amount of time and money in our homes, so it’s worth making sure this investment is adequately protected, yet more than a quarter of people (27%) are unaware of what is and isn’t covered by their home insurance policy.”
The report found that home owners are more likely to complete small cosmetic maintenance such as painting and decorating (86%) rather than tackling bigger maintenance issues such as cleaning gutters (55%) or repairing fittings and cracks (63%). This is despite these larger tasks posing a much larger risk to the state of the property.
DIY expert Ben Hillman said:“Cosmetic quick-fixes are often the popular choice but a lack of awareness may lead homeowners to avoid problems that could have a more serious impact.
“By making a number of small maintenance checks throughout the year homeowners can save both time and money, and ensure their home is well maintained.”
Hosted by comedian and actor Tom Allen, 34 Gold, 23 Silver and 22 Bronze awards were handed out across an amazing 34 categories recognising brilliance and innovation right across the breadth of UK general insurance.
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