Pest infestations could prove costly without the right home insurance

Insurer Saga stand out from the home insurance crowd, says Brian Brown, associate director at finance information website Defaqto.com, because its policies cover damage by squirrels which can cause the greatest pest-related problems.

Proof of the need to insure against pest problems can be found in the example of Luciano Mares, who was unfortunate enough to lose his house after it was burnt down by a rat which had caught aflame in his efforts to kill it. Such extraordinary unluckiness should prompt homeowners to question the small print in their contract in answer to the question, Would I have been covered?.

Research conducted by ICM indicated that one in ten homeowners in the UK has had a pest problem in the last year which has resulted in a bill . Squirrels have been reported as the worst vandals, with furniture bills of £4,000 not uncommon after they have nibbled furniture and destroyed ornaments.

Pest problems are seasonal, with cold temperatures provoking rodents to head indoors to escape outdoor conditions. Wasps, on the other hand, are a problem in the springtime, with nests sometimes containing more than 25,000 wasps.