While nearly one in four Brits would think twice about buying a house numbered 13, AXA suggests that addresses beginning with 88 are the ones to avoid, having topped the list for burglaries in 2011 and featured in the top ten for two years in a row. According to the insurer’s research, the most unlucky [...]
Towergate Insurance has become the primary sponsor of the Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network (England & Wales). The move coincides with a relaunch of the Network’s image in efforts to attract younger members, and the launch of a new website that allows the 173,000 Neighbourhood Watch groups across the country to come together via a [...]
Specialist loss adjuster QuestGates has warned that the UK could see a surge in subsidence this summer. Associate Director Kevin Terry has stated that the latest Meteorological Office rainfall and evaporation calculation system figures indicate the year-on-year soil moisture deficit exceeding that of 2005, during which the industry saw a rise in subsidence claims. Earlier [...]
Endsleigh today unveiled a promise to all NASUWT members across the UK that they will beat any existing home insurance renewal quote for them. Endsleigh already offer customised deals for teachers and are now bolstering their NASUWT home insurance product by offering this price guarantee until 31 December 2011. Endsleigh home insurance includes 24 hour [...]
Only a third of intermediaries are “somewhat clear” on exactly what constitutes insurance fraud, according to new research from Legal & General. In addition, the insurer’s FraudStoppers report suggests that over a half of intermediaries think people can get away with an inflated claim, while a quarter believe that house insurance claims are exaggerated by [...]
New research from RAC Home Insurance, part of the Aviva group, suggests that almost a quarter of homeowners automatically renew their home insurance with their existing provider, rather than shopping around to find a better deal. Some homeowners could therefore be paying 224% over the odds for cover, based on the difference between the lowest [...]
Aviva is reminding music festival fans that a tent in not the only cover they require. Nearly half of all Britons have attended the summer festivals at some time or other, and of these 14% have lost belongings or had them stolen, according to the insurer’s research. With many festival-goers taking expensive personal items such [...]
Lloyd’s is warning that alarm bells are already ringing across Europe over the potential for widespread water shortages. According to Lloyd’s, 2011 is shaping up to be seriously dry, with officials having already raised concerns in Switzerland, The Netherlands and France, while parts of the UK have seen the driest Spring in more than a [...]
Atkinson Smith has launched an online quote and buy facility to support its self-build (new build) and home extension/conversion offering. The scheme, which is underwritten by Brit Insurance, is now available to retail customers and brokers direct. The firm’s managing director, Ian Laycock, comments: “With over 15,000 self-build projects taking place each year in the [...]
Home insurance premiums have risen 6% on average across the UK since January 2010, according to moneysupermarket.com. However, residents of Dorking in Surrey have seen an average 46% increase over the 14 month period and homeowners in the city centre of Edinburgh and in Milngavie, Glasgow, have experienced similar increases (45% and 40% respectively). Overall, [...]
Domestic burglaries have risen by 14%, according to new statistics from the Home Office. Worryingly, it is also widely expected that burglaries will continue to become more frequent due to the warm weather leading people to spend more time in their gardens and leave windows open. According to home insurer Ageas almost half (47%) of [...]
Gold prices have reached a new all-time high, prompting home insurer LV= to advise homeowners to ensure that they have appropriate coverage for their gold. Martin Milliner, Head of Technical Claims at LV=, exemplified the high prices by pointing out that an 18 carat bracelet that would have cost £3,000 a decade ago would now [...]
Legal & General’s general insurance business has commissioned research which reveals that, ahead of the forthcoming Royal Wedding, a staggering 70% of people do not even know the names of their neighbours. As communities up and down the nation prepare for street parties ahead of the occasion, only 37% of people would know a neighbour [...]
A new report from Consumer Focus suggests that Before the Event Legal Expenses Insurance (BTE LEI) could play a bigger role in widening access to justice. However, the watchdog claims that the current design and promotion of the insurance leaves a lot to be desired, as 43% of people surveyed said they knew little or [...]
Legal & General has launched new household insurance cover, Landlords’ Insurance, to cater to the specific needs of landlords. Landlords with one or more properties can choose from a range of cover options for a single premium. Simplicity is a key part of the new policy, which has a single policy summary and renewal date, [...]
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has launched a short market study into extended warranties for domestic electrical goods such as televisions, washing machines and computers. The study will focus on whether competition in the sector is sufficiently effective in a market worth well over £750 million. The watchdog has already reviewed after-markets for domestic [...]
Attempted fraud rates across the UK insurance sector fell by 5% in 2010, compared with a year earlier, with nine in every 10,000 policy applications and claims detected as fraudulent. According to a new data from Experian, first-parties were responsible for the overwhelming majority of cases, 80% of which were due to non-disclosure of previous [...]
Ageas has joined forces with the Neighbourhood Watch Trust to persuade Britons not to make their homes a “shop window” of opportunity for thieves. New research carried out on behalf of the insurer indicates that homes across the UK have an average £1,223 in valuables (such as TVs, other electronic goods, antiques and works of [...]
The country could see a surge in burglaries during the Royal Wedding, according to home insurer AXA Insurance. Research commissioned by the firm indicates 40% of Britons will be out of the house during the state occasion, with 21% opening their doors for a party with friends and family. Unfortunately, burglars tend to be wise [...]
Gadget-loving commuters are carrying over £3,800 worth of technology to and from work, according to new research from esure. The typical commuter bag or briefcase is likely to contain electronic kit worth £593 more than two years ago, including costly smartphones, laptops, e-readers and MP3 players. With over 35% of Britons considering buying an iPad [...]
