Households risking loss through DIY disasters

Posted : 26-04-2005

A surge of DIY has been forecast for this weekend and are households planning home improvements are advised to ensure they have adequate insurance to cover any potential disasters.

Spending on DIY has doubled over the past 20 years, £15.4 billion being spent on DIY in 2004, with homeowners looking to add value on to the price of their homes or to save money by conducting home improvements without professional help.

However, according to figures from the National Federation of Builders householders, DIY-disasters can be very expensive and cost £580 million a year in terms of builders being hires repair DIY-disasters.

According to Kevin Sinclair, director of insurance at the AA, insurers are preparing themselves for an influx of claims for accidental damage related to DIY-disasters this weekend.

"Some of the most common accidents include paint spilled on the carpet, water damage caused by accidental breaking of pipes or a foot being put through the ceiling from the loft," he said.

However Mr Sinclair warned that many homeowners lack adequate insurance to cover any disasters which may occur, stating: "Up to two thirds of homes are under insured and a quarter have no home contents cover at all. And a high proportion of people choose not to include any cover for accidental damage.

"When you need to make a claim that could not only be a costly mistake, but may lead to yet more domestic disharmony."

Halifax Insurance estimates the average DIY-related claim to be worth approximately £350.

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