Ice thaw warning for homeowners

People are being warned by a home insurance provider of the threat of escaping water in a house as built-up ice thaws.

Insurance provider Fortis has reported an increase in household insurance claims amid wintery conditions, as a result of problems such as burst pipes .

Fortis has already seen claims from escaped water increase over the past year and Gary Lobb, head of household and travel claims operations at the firm, believes preventative measures should be taken.

He said: The current cold snap is likely to exacerbate the issue, causing major disruption and heartache to both home and business owners.

The more households and businesses we can all help to avoid an escape of water, the better it will be for our customers and the costs of insurance in the future.

Among his recommendations is that the heating is kept at a low temperature when buildings are left unattended, in addition to ensuring that the location of the stopcock is known by all householders in case of a leak.

Marks and Spencer Home Insurance recently reported that it had seen claims for water damage increase by 200 per cent compared to the summer months.