VAT cut for home improvement could be home insurance boost

A campaign group is pushing the government to reduce the VAT on home improvements, something that could help reduce home insurance claims .

The 'Repairing Britain' campaign believes that cutting the VAT on building repairs and repairs could help with jobs and skills in the construction sector.

It could also improve properties, thus decreasing the risk of having to make claims on the home insurance policy .

A spokesman for construction company Rok, which is leading the campaign, said: Lowering VAT on property repairs and maintenance will provide a stimulus to the industry to bring in more work and help firms retain jobs and skills that are in danger of disappearing.

The recent winter weather conditions have shown just how important maintenance can be, with many homeowners suffering from damage caused by the cold snap when temperatures reached as low as -22 degrees C.

Among the main problems were burst pipes, with Sainsbury's Finance saying that it received 16,000 home insurance claims linked to water damage from the beginning of December to the beginning of February.