Less than 50 per cent of homeowners will be undertaking special checks or carrying out work on their home to protect against the winter weather, a survey carried out among residents across the UK has claimed.
Property owners in Northern Ireland are reported best prepared for the cold snap, with 75 per cent of respondents planning ahead for the inclement weather, according to insurance provider Paymentshield.
Those who live in Central England have been exposed as being the least prepared, with just 45 per cent of those asked planning to even check their homes for vulnerabilities.
Scottish participants were at 54 per cent and the Welsh at 50 per cent.
These figures are in spite of a huge number of weather related insurance claims made each winter, with Paymentshield receiving 2,357 claims during the period between December 2011 and January 2012.
In light of these statistics, Paymentshield is urging homeowners to ensure their homes are winter-proofed and to check their home insurance policies so they understand what is, and is not, covered.
Tim Johnson, CEO, commented: “Taking steps to ensure your home is ‘winter ready’ need not be a mammoth task. However, now is the time to start thinking about jobs such as lagging pipes, roof repairs and clearing guttering before the bad weather really sets in.
“Homeowners should also be checking their home insurance policies to ensure they’re adequately protected and understand their cover levels. The last thing people need in the run up to the festive period is avoidable damage to their home.”
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