Insurance experts issue warning to homeowners as Storm Éowyn hits the UK
With Met Office weather warnings for rain and wind in place across much of the UK from Thursday, the experts at Go.Compare home insurance are warning homeowners to make sure their properties are secure and well-maintained before bad weather arrives.
In a recent survey from the comparison site, over a third (36%) of Brits 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, commented: “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. 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. 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.”
For more information on storm-proofing your home, visit: https://www.gocompare.com/household-tips/storm-proofing-your-home/
Contact Information
Rubie Barker
Notes to editors
-Ends-
Notes to editors
*These findings are from a study released by Sago between September 27-30, 2024, among a random selection of 2,349 of GB adults ages 18+ who are online panelists of Sago’s Community.
The results were weighted by age, gender, region, and ethnicity to match the population, according to Census data. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size has an estimated margin of error (which measures sampling variability) of +/- 2.5%, 19 times out of 20. Discrepancies in or between totals when compared to the data tables are due to rounding. Excerpts from this release of findings should be properly attributed, with interpretation subject to clarification or correction.
Sago is the global research and data partner that connects human answers to business questions. Combining a legacy of impact, global reach, and innovative spirit, Sago enables clients to solve business problems through extensive audience access and an adaptive range of qualitative and quantitative solutions.
For further information please contact: Lynsey Walden or Kath Chadwick at Go.compare on lynsey.walden@gocompare.com or kathryn.chadwick@gocompare.com. Keep up-to-date with GoCompare on Twitter; @GoCompare
About Go.Compare
Go.Compare is a comparison website that enables people to compare the costs and features of a wide variety of insurance policies, financial products and energy tariffs.
It does not charge people to use its services and does not accept advertising or sponsored listings, so all product comparisons are unbiased. Go.Compare makes its money through fees paid by the providers of products that appear on its various comparison services when a customer buys through the site.
When it launched in 2006, it was the first comparison site to focus on displaying policy details rather than just listing prices, with the aim of helping people to make better-informed decisions when buying their insurance. It is this approach to comparing products that secured the company an invitation to join the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) in 2008, and it is still the only comparison site to be a member of this organisation.
Go.Compare has remained dedicated to helping people choose the most appropriate products rather than just the cheapest and works with Defaqto, the independent financial researcher, to integrate additional policy information into a number of its insurance comparison services. This allows people to compare up to an extra 30 features of cover.
Go.Compare is part of Future Plc and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). More information can be found here www.gocompare.com or here https://www.futureplc.com/brands/