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Your Money > Insurance Articles > Why home insurance...
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By Sarah Modlock
Regional information – weather related claims 2006
Source: Halifax Home Insurance When you're buying or renewing your home insurance, make sure you know what is covered when it comes to weather and flooding. You may find there are optional additions which could be particularly useful if you live in an area which is often affected by adverse weather. For example, Halifax's Home Emergency Cover provides a 24/7 helpline which, for just over £3 extra a month, guarantees the provision of an approved tradesperson to make your property safe within hours. Weather-proof your home Winter is the time when we retreat to the warmth and safety of our homes, but before doing so there are some essential checks that need to be carried out. With home emergencies, prevention is certainly better than the cure, and many claims could be avoided if householders spent a small amount of time preparing for the coming bad weather. Outside:
The heat is on Colder weather means we rely on all sorts of things to keep us warm and cosy inside, from central heating to fires and candles. It is worth looking at the tips in our Cut Your Bills centre and the energywatch website for advice on how to use energy more efficiently, for the planet and your wallet. But in National Fire Safety Week it makes more sense than ever to consider the risks to your home and your safety. According to figures from the Association of British Insurers, 200 homes suffer a fire every day in the UK. The national Fire Service recommends that you install smoke alarms and ensure they are fitted with new batteries whenever required or connected to the mains. You should also formulate an escape plan and communicate it to your family so that you know just what to do in the event of a fire at home. Candles are now more popular than ever but many people do not realise how hot they get and fail to put them on heat-proof surfaces. Fires can start when they are placed near curtains, under shelves or on items such television sets. According to research by Abbey Insurance nearly half of the adult population,19.6 million people, plan to use a form of heating appliance in their bedroom other than central heating to keep warm in the winter. Of those using such an appliance, 8.1 million people will be using electric blankets to keep warm at night, while 6.2 million people will be using electric heaters and two million will rely on oil radiators. Electric blankets account for around 5000 fires a year, which could be prevented with a little care. The Fire Service recommends that you replace any old or damaged blankets and only use them over night if they have a specially-designed thermostat. Halifax Home Insurance is also reminding people who have a real fireplace in their home to make sure their chimneys are swept safely by a professional chimney sweep before lighting fires again this winter. Throughout the summertime leaves, paper and even birds' nests build up inside chimney flues. If not cleared, this debris can release poisonous fumes and become a serious risk to health when the fire is lit. The National Association of Chimney Sweeps has a network of fully insured members throughout the UK. To find a qualified chimney sweep in your area, visit www.chimneyworks.co.uk. The insurance postcode lottery You may think that insurance is pretty much a case of one size fits all. Not so. It depends on a number of factors including where you live. The massive difference between the most expensive and the cheapest postcodes in the UK is based on how insurance companies measure 'risk' in your area - that is the factors which could result in a claim. If you are at high-risk of crime, flooding, subsidence or other factors home insurers consider, then your quotes will be higher. According to Moneysupermarket.com, the ten most expensive areas in the UK are West Norwood (average lowest quote £342), Anerley (£316), East Dulwich (£308), Upper Holloway (£308), Stanmore (£290), Upper Norwood (£290), Brockley (£285), Mill Hill (£284) and Hendon (£283). Outside London the most expensive areas are Bacup, Lancashire (£283), Anfield, Liverpool (£258), Highbridge, Somerset (£255), Wisbech, Cambridgeshire (£248), Bradford (£240), Liverpool (£238), Ballysillan, Belfast (£237), Basildon, Essex (£229), Jarrow, Tyne & Wear (£229), Herne Bay, Kent (£228). These quotes are based on £100k-£200k rebuild cost, £20k-£50k contents, £250 voluntary excess and 5+ years no claim bonus between 01.01.07 and 01.07.07 The good news is that different insurance companies measure these risks in different ways. So anyone who finds their insurance premiums too high should look for insurers who will assess their premiums on an individual basis. Moneysupermarket suggests that you shop around for the cheapest rates at least once a year - rather than relying on renewal quotes. If you live in Stonehaven, Cowdenbeath, Diss, Barnstaple, Meifod, Morpeth, Aberdeen, Westbury, Honiton or Pennyland then you are the winners of the insurance lottery.
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