Everest industry news
Home insurance is a 'social responsibility'
16 April 2008
Securing adequate home contents cover is a "social responsibility", an insurance expert has insisted, and can also protect you against DIY disasters.Peter Staddon, head of technical services at the British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA), believes seeking the right policy is a civic duty.
And with more homeowners due to stay put and improve their homes this year, the need to secure cover before undertaking repair work is increasingly acute.
"Your social responsibility is that you should be looking at taking out insurance," said the BIBA expert.
He recommended that only homes on the lowest incomes should give low priority to home contents cover.
Homeowners looking to begin electrical, plumbing and other difficult DIY work themselves are also advised to bring in experts for fear of invalidating their insurance.
Furthermore, many policies do not cover accidental damage from repair work, such as drilling through pipes or spilling paint on carpets.
Bodged DIY can also reduce the value of your property. The Halifax estimates that sub-standard improvements wiped £350 million from the value of UK properties last year.
Expertly completed work will also make your home more saleable, with popular examples being a newly fitted kitchen, or fuel-saving double glazing.
