Lack of home insurance 'can be costly'

Monday, May 24th 2010

Householders looking to cut the cost of their bills and outgoings might have considered whether their home insurance is necessary.

But those who are not covered could find themselves worse-off financially in the event of a burglary.

According to research from Yorkshire Bank, there is an annual bill totalling £6 million for those uninsured victims of a break-in in Yorkshire.

The average claim value is just over £1,200, meaning many Britons suffer costly consequences of a burglary.

Steve Fletcher, head of retail at Yorkshire Bank, reminds homeowners that prevention is better than the cure and it is wise to try to stop the break-ins occurring in the first place.

He added: "Adequate home contents insurance can't stop the crime from happening but it can ease the burden should the worst happen."

Those looking to install home security measures might consider window locks, which were found to be the most successful preventative measure, according to the bank.

Keeping valuables hidden from view is also a simple step to deter thieves.