Weather warning issued to homeowners

20th October, 2005

A leading bank has today warned Brits to take out adequate home insurance cover, following forecasts that this winter will be one of the worst on record.

Seven in ten household claims are weather-related, claims HSBC, yet one in eight households are not insured against weather damage.

'Property damage can be devastating and can affect more than just your home,' said Stephen Young, head of general insurance at HSBC.

'We should not be complacent when it comes to having adequate protection for our home and its possessions,' he added.

In the last year and a half, two thirds of claims submitted because of weather damage were as a result of flooding and storms while only 39 per cent of insurance claims were due to burglary, vandalism, fire or smoke in the same period.

However, it is not only storms that cause damage to homes. Cold weather can create problems with boilers and heating systems, which home insurance will cover if the policy is extensive.

 

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