Further top fears include ID theft/fraud (55%), theft of personal belongings when outside the home (47%), vandalism and malicious damage (45%) and the fear of a house fire (44%). Burglary is found to be the biggest fear for all age groups except for those aged over 65 who, despite being perceived as an easier target for burglary, say their greatest worry is ID theft and fraud.
Maybe a sign of the times, over a quarter of those polled (29%) state that unexpected visitors at the door leave them feeling unsafe, and a similar number (27%) say noise from the street outside makes them feel wary. Nearly one in five (18%) feel unsafe when at home alone at night and one in six (15%) say an unexpected telephone call late a night unsettles them. Perhaps with only themselves to blame, more than one in 10 (11%) admit that watching scary films puts them on edge.
Regionally, there are stark variations too. The top fear for over half (55%) of those in Scotland is a fire in the home, whilst over two thirds of those in the West Midlands (68%) fear being burgled most. Despite common perceptions that theft and burglary are rife on the capital’s streets, Londoners say their greatest fear is being a victim of identity theft or fraud (63%). Scots (39%) are almost twice as likely to lose sleep worrying about domestic water leakage or burst pipes than those in the North East (20%).
So what does put minds at ease? The majority of those questioned (74%) feel safer at home having security locks on all doors and windows, whilst over two thirds (67%) find a partner or family member in the home puts their mind at ease. Over half (51%) sleep easy having a landline telephone set up and connection to the internet proves a comforting link to virtual communities, and a source of helpful support and advice, for just over one in 10 (11 per cent) of us.
Martyn Foulds, senior claims manager at Halifax Home Insurance comments: “This research has presented interesting findings, especially when broken down by age and region. Whilst the country shares some of the more typical fears, the way we tackle these concerns can vary greatly.
“We all have our own home comforts – in many cases it’s the age old methods, such as locks, lights or having a dog. Interestingly, there are also the more modern wonders such as the phone and internet which highlight the importance we place on contact with the world outside our front door.”
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