Horseplay warning over home insurance

Horseplay has left Britons out of pocket to the tune of £325 million, one home insurance company has found.

Research by Tescocompare.com reveals that messing around is the leading cause of household accidents, forcing many people to make a claim on their home insurance .

DIY mishaps lead to a total bill of £149 million a year, while drinking a bit too much causes £95 million worth of damage to UK homes, the survey shows.

However, the study also found that 29 per cent of Britons do not have home insurance which covers accidental damage.

Peter Baxter of Tescocompare.com, said: As the saying goes accidents do happen - and this research suggests many of us suffer financial loses on an annual basis.

Anyone shopping around for home insurance should make sure they compare the levels of cover offered by various policies to make sure they find one that suits their needs, he added.

Earlier this week, Neil Laird, home insurance manager for Sainsbury's Finance, warned people to inform their policy provider before undertaking major structural work on their property .