Easter DIY set to spark home insurance claims

Home insurance firms will pay out £25 million worth of claims relating to damage inflicted by people embarking on DIY projects this Easter, it has been claimed.

The study, conducted by Allianz Insurance, also found that 16 per cent of people have damaged their property while carrying out improvements, meaning they might have had to claim on their home insurance .

Almost half of those surveyed admitted to starting a DIY job without really knowing how to set about the task.

Simon Coughlin, spokesman for Allianz Insurance, said: Before they start, we suggest DIY enthusiasts should check to see if their insurance policy covers them for accidental damage in case the job goes horribly wrong.

The average cost of a claim for DIY related damage is £600 and our claims staff expect to be busier than usual following a Bank Holiday weekend.

Yesterday, Martyn Foulds, senior claims manager for Halifax Home Insurance, issued a similar warning and suggested that people leave big DIY jobs to the experts.