The Halifax is reminding all homeowners that they should ensure lightning cover is part of their home insurance especially as summer sees more claims.
According to data from Halifax home insurance customers the average claim for lightning damage costs over GBP 1,400 and such claims are 14 times more common in the summer than winter. The thing with lightning is that it can travel through things, so as well as causing actual damage to the structure of a building it can also go through wires and affect electrical equipment and so on.
A Halifax spokesman also pointed out that lightning can not be anticipated so no one knows where it will strike. For this reason checking the home insurance policy to make sure lightning cover is included is a sensible step to take.
According to Sainsburys Bank around 20 percent of UK homeowners are planning major changes to the structure of their properties in the next 12 months, though how many of them realise they should tell their insurer is another matter.
Around a third of those planning their home improvements were nor aware that their insurer should be made aware of the changes. Logically it makes sense since home insurance uses the information provided by the owner to determine the policy cost. If someone then adds on a new kitchen and conservatory for example the insurance company, be it Sainsburys Bank or another, would need to know the changes to make sure they are insured.
It is perhaps easy to forget about home insurance, said a Sainsburys Bank spokesman, since it is not visible and covers the house, but property changes really can change the value of the property and the amount it needs to be insured for. For this reason property owners should advise their insurer of the changes and save themselves problems in the future.
Direct Line has revealed its latest home insurance product to be an all inclusive package that covers all aspects and should save consumers money.
The new Direct Line Home Insurance Plus policy covers both buildings and contents, other possessions such as sports equipment, handbags and their contents. It also incorporates travel insurance, protect for credit cards, legal support and ID theft.
Apart from the comprehensive nature of the policy, which Direct Line believe will allow customers to feel more relaxed, there are going to be cost savings too. With protection for all these different aspects in one policy it negates the need for a range of different insurance products. Using one policy like this is easier and cheaper than the options currently available.