Home insurance needed for 'dangerous' visitors

Posted : 29-11-2005

Friends and their children will cause £1.12 billion of damage when visiting homeowners' properties next year, according to a new study.

Halifax Home Insurance has found that visiting friends and relatives cause three million accidents in British homes each year, leaving the average homeowner with the cleaning-up bill.

However, Halifax's survey has found that seven million Britons still do not have home contents insurance.

A spokesperson for Halifax said: "However well meaning, friends may be enemies to your bank balance unless you have comprehensive home insurance cover for the damage they cause.

"Homeowners could face paying out significant sums if they are underinsured, or have no insurance cover, because of their friends’ behaviour."

Typical accidents include damage to furniture, with almost one million household furnishings needing professional cleaning and 800,000 items of sentimental importance being broken, according to the survey.

Halifax urges UK homeowners to ensure they are covered for any damage visitors may cause.

"Adequate cover can help people avoid disputes over damage to property and furnishings, which could otherwise cause rifts between lifelong friends," added the spokeswoman.


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