’Regular property maintenance checks are key to ensure your home is weather-proof,’ says claims manager
Lansdown Insurance Brokers has revealed the top three claims it received from property clients in 2023.
Escape of water – referring to burst pipes and water leaks – was the most frequently claimed for event, followed by storm damage and accidental damage.
Lansdown associate director Darren Bee said that “events happening beyond our control can be distressing at the best of times, but especially when our most costly possessions and treasured items are damaged or at risk”.
In turn, Lansdown stressed the need for owners of both houses and flats to have effective property cover in place.
“This is to ensure they’re protected against commonly occurring events which can have a significant financial impact,” it added.
For example, the average claim cost for escape of water came in the region of £5,000, meaning it was also the costliest claim on record.
The average cost for a policy covering the escape of water, more specifically, totalled £4,844 for households and £5,125 for flats.
”Regular property maintenance checks are key to ensure your home is weather-proof,” Mandy Grindle, claims manager at Lansdown, said.
“Make sure to check gutters and drains are clear of leaves or debris, external water pipes are lagged to prevent frozen burst pipes, inspect the roof to see if there are any slipped or loose tiles and regularly service boiler and heating systems to ensure they are in good working order.”
Storm and accidental damage
Meanwhile, Lansdown calculated that the average total cost for storm damage amounted to £2,709 and £3,570 for households and flats respectively.
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Bad weather has battered the UK recently, with Storm Henk, for example, leaving homes and roads flooded at the start of January.
Lansdown said claims for storm damage often included repairs both to pitched and flat roofs.
”Storm damage was the second most frequent claim cause for Lansdown clients in 2023 but this may well increase, especially given recent weather events and the increasing frequency of named storms,” the firm said.
Meanwhile, accidental damage cost households a total of £1,143 on average, while for flats it was £1,886.
“By insuring with a well-respected broker, our clients know we are on their side and working hard to ensure that claims are settled quickly and fairly by the insurer, leaving them to get on with their daily lives,” Bee said.
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