Home insurance warning as cold weather bites

People should act now to protect their plumbing as the cold weather bites, one home insurance firm has warned.

According to the AA, it has seen a 450 per cent increase in home insurance claims brought on by flooding after pipes burst.

Simon Douglas, director of the firm, explained that mild winters have made many people complacent when it comes to such matters.

This year's big freeze is a reminder that burst pipes can cause serious water damage to both buildings and contents such as carpets and furniture, the home insurance expert said.

As well as dealing with a home insurance claim, people will also have to dry out and repair their property, he added.

Last week, Sainsbury's Home Insurance reported that the value of claims relating to burst pipe damage hit £27.56 million between December 22nd and the same date in January.

The firm also warned people to protect their home against the risk of such damage.