Severe weather prompts Halifax home contents insurance warning

Halifax has offered tips to households which are at risk of flooding and may need to make a home contents insurance claim.
Home contents insurance provider Halifax has said that the severe weather seen in the UK over the last weekend is set to continue in the coming weeks and has warned its customers to keep their belongings safe from damage.Northern and western regions are the most at risk from flooding as strong winds and above average rainfall are set to hit residents this week and households must take the steps necessary to avoid having to make a home insurance claim, the firm said.
These include placing sandbags outside doors to reduce the amount of water entering properties, moving furniture, rugs and sentimental items upstairs and unplugging electrical equipment if a flood is imminent.
If damage to property does occur, the company advises having home contents insurance details at the ready, as well as taking photographs of any ruined items to help the success of any claims.
Martyn Foulds, senior claims manager for Halifax Home Insurance, said: "We are advising homeowners who are at risk to take steps now to reduce the risk of damage to their homes, and to monitor local news and weather regularly to keep updated on the conditions."
The presenter of Channel 4 show Location Location Location also recently warned Brits to look after their properties during the winter to avoid claiming on their home insurance policies.
Phil Spencer, who is heading the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings' National Maintenance Week, said that homeowners need to make sure any vital work needed on their property is sorted out before the weather worsens.
Written by Rosie May
© Copyright
Related Articles
- Home mortgage overpayments scheme introduced by the Co-operative - 2nd December, 2009

With the Bank of England base rate resting at an all-time low, home mortgage customers should be taking the opportunity to pay off any expensive debt while they can, according to the Co-operative Bank.
The group has launched a new scheme which allows borrowers to go beyond the typical ten per cent limit for overpayments and offer up to 50 per cent more than scheduled bill amounts to mortgage lenders... - Claiming on home contents insurance 'not always best option' - 11th December, 2009

Although the cost of home contents insurance is supposed to allow customers to be able to claim back money on lost or damaged items, filing for a payout may not be the best idea in some situations.
That is according to financial website lovemoney.com, which suggested that insurers often have a 'three strikes' policy, which means that those who make three claims in as many years will be blacklisted by cover providers... - Check home contents insurance prices before renewal - 30th November, 2009

Home contents insurance customers who believe that remaining loyal to a particular provider will offer reduced premiums have been warned to shop around before their next renewal date comes up.
The Guardian reported that 83-year-old Maurice Henderson was left feeling confused after finding out that his £648-a-year home contents insurance policy from Royal Sun Alliance (RSA) was not as great a deal as it should have been... - Home contents insurance needed for Christmas - 8th December, 2009

While cooking food, hosting parties and exchanging presents are the traditional way to celebrate Christmas, one firm has said that these activities could end up requiring a home contents insurance claim.
According to Aviva, the increasing trend of buying the latest gadgets as Christmas presents means that burglars may have their eyes on the pile of gifts under the tree this year... - Winter claims rising rapidly, central heating cover customers are told - 14th January, 2010

Britons have made three times as many emergency home insurance claims during the winter compared to the summer months, it emerged today (January 14th).
In news which will be of concern to central heating cover customers, M&S Home Insurance claimed that the freezing conditions have led to a marked increase in incidents... - UK consumers 'stubborn' over service providers - 5th January, 2010

Almost 20 million Britons decided against moving to a new provider of everyday financial services and utilities in 2009, it was claimed today (January 5th).
A new study by GoCompare.com has indicated that, despite the tough economic landscape, 41 per cent of consumers have not reacted by attempting to seek better deals... - Britons given key Xmas home insurance information - 21st December, 2009

Homeowners must ensure that their properties are fully covered to prevent this year's Christmas celebrations turning into a disaster, it was claimed today (December 21st).
MORETH>N Home Insurance revealed that it witnessed a substantial increase in the number of fire incidents reported by its customers on Christmas Day in 2008... - Campaign launched to promote home contents insurance - 31st December, 2009

Home contents insurance customers are the target of a new campaign launched by the Home Office, it was confirmed yesterday (December 29th).
The government has announced that it will embark on an eight-week marketing drive to publicise how households can avoid becoming victims of domestic burglaries... - Home contents insurance needed for winter weather - 14th December, 2009

With the cold weather descending on the UK in the past few weeks, householders have been warned that steps need to be taken if they are to avoid having to claim on their home contents insurance.
Freezing temperatures can cause pipes to burst and boilers to breakdown, leaving homeowners with no central heating to keep them warm this winter, and Confused.com has offered some advice... - Britons with central heating cover left waiting for Warm Front boiler replacements - 5th February, 2010

The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering has expressed worries about the long waiting lists for Warm Front-funded boiler replacements.
Despite having central heating cover in place, some insurance customers are being left to wait for a replacement boiler for as long as 80 days, a new report has revealed...