Home insurance providers reluctant to insure older properties

Home insurance firms are often reluctant to conduct business with Britons who own old properties, it has been claimed.

Writing for the Daily Telegraph, Christopher Middleton explained that old homes, especially those made of timber-frame, can be difficult to insure.

It is not just the fabric of a house that can frighten insurers, though, it is also the shape.

Mr Middleton said that providers are quite often loathed to insure non-standard buildings.

Meanwhile, Michael Holmes, spokesperson for the National Home Improvement Show, recently warned home insurance customers that the number of injuries sustained from poor home improvements is set to increase.

Mr Holmes explained that this is because homeowners are seeking to save money during the financial downturn.

Many accidents are caused by the misuse of power tools, while some homeowners that attempt DIY are often over ambitious and overestimate their level of skill, he said.