Homeowners issued insurance warning as Storm Éowyn to bring severe damage
Insurance experts have issued a warning to homeowners as the country braces itself for stormy weather.
The Met Office has shared warnings for strong gusts on Friday, with the North East expected to see winds of up to 80mph. Now experts at Go.Compare home insurance are asking people to make sure their homes are safe.
In a recent survey from the comparison site, over a third (36%) of people admitted they wouldn’t be preparing their homes for the winter weather, possibly leaving them vulnerable to damage and unable to claim on their insurance. Nathan Blackler, home insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: "Taking the time to make sure that your home is secure and watertight before this bad weather arrives could save you a real headache further down the line.
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"Failing to properly maintain your property means that if your home does become damaged in the weather and you want to claim on your insurance, you will likely be rejected by your provider." Those surveyed were also asked which tasks they were least likely to do. Repairing and maintaining paving slabs proved the least popular task, with 37% of people placing it at the bottom of their to-do lists.
A North East weather map shows the areas of the region that will be worst hit by the storm. An hour-by-hour forecast for Newcastle on Friday suggests wind gusts will pick up sharply in the early hours of the morning.
Meanwhile, 35% said they were least likely to check and repair the roof on their property, while just under a third of those surveyed said checking there was adequate insulation in their attic wasn’t a priority. Another 30% revealed they were unlikely to clean the guttering, and one in four said they would likely neglect to maintain windows and doors.
Nathan added: "It’s important to ensure that any garden furniture or pots are put away and secured, that there aren’t leaves blocking your gutters and that any overhanging trees are dealt with to make sure they don’t cause any storm damage. It’s also important to note that your insurer might not pay out if maintenance hasn’t been carried out by a professional.
"Our research found that 55% of people planned to carry out any tasks themselves or with the help of friends/relatives, possibly leaving them at risk of invalidating their policy if they need to make a claim. Bleeding your radiators and checking your smoke alarms are tasks which can easily be carried out without an expert, but it’s best to leave certain tasks like roof repairs to the experts."
More information on storm-proofing your home is available here.