Tag Archives: Buildings Insurance

Over £1 Billion Per Annum Saved By UK Inland Flood Defences

Some interesting research has been carried out relating to the amount that is estimated is being saved in flood damage here in the UK due to the inland flood defences that have been put in place over the years.  The research was carried out by Risk Management Solutions (RMS) on behalf of Flood Re.

The research took into account many thousands of weather event simulations so an awful lot of work has obviously gone into producing the information. The research took into account the situation both without and with flood defences.

You may be surprised at just how much flood damage could be caused inland such as due to rivers breaking their banks. Apparently, it is estimated that with flood defences in place the cost of water damage could amount to around £0.7 billion. However, without flood defences in-situ it is estimated that the cost of damage caused by water could be in the region of £1.8 billion.

That is a huge potential saving of around £1.1 billion as a result of having inland flood defences in place.

An example of the benefit of having flood defences in place can be found in Bewdley, Worcestershire. This small, picturesque Georgian town has the River Severn running through it. For many years, on occasions, the river burst its banks and a significant number of homes and businesses running along the side of the river were flooded causing a great deal of flood damage to buildings and their contents as well as much heartache for the owners of those properties. That was until a few years ago when flood barrier defences were strategically put in place along the side of the river. Since then, there has not been a significant problem with flooding in that location.

Owners of properties within flood risk areas of the UK are likely to be charged more for their buildings cover so it may be a good idea to shop around. In that respect, why not get in touch with us here at AIB Insurance on 02380 268 351 and discuss your requirements with an experienced member of our team who will do all that he or she can to help source suitable, competitive, quality home insurance to cover both your buildings and any contents.

Water Escape Claims Increase

FloodOur clients may be interested to read that insurers here in the UK continue to pay out huge sums of money in respect of domestic claims for damage caused by water escape. In fact, it may come as a surprise to you to hear that such claims involve the biggest payouts for insurance companies providing this type of cover.

According to information provided by the Association of British Insurers (ABI), some £483 million was paid out by insurers for claims relating to the escape of water from domestic properties in the nine months from the 1st January to 30 September of this year. Unfortunately, that is a rise of 1% when compared with the first nine months of 2016. The average amount paid out by insurance companies for escaped domestic water damage is £2,638 per claim.

Such claims will no doubt include damage caused by people leaving taps on whilst filling up a bath thus leading to it overflowing and damaging both the upstairs and downstairs of a property. There will probably be numerous claims for water leakage from the likes of washing machines and dishwashers. As more homes have central heating systems fitted these days, damage caused by leakages from them is a factor as is greater use being made by the building industry of materials that are not as water resistant. More properties now have the likes of cloakrooms and en-suite bathrooms and en-suite shower rooms included in the design.

So, what can you do to reduce the likelihood of suffering such damage? Well, apart from making sure that taps are turned off after use, there are many things you can look at such as you should check the hoses on appliances such as washing machines to make sure that they are not leaking. If you have a hot water Pipecylinder in your airing cupboard make sure that it is not leaking. Check that the toilet basins are not cracked. Make sure that radiators are not dripping water from the pipes that enter and come out of them as well as at the end of the top of the radiators where you occasionally let out the air. Also check the main stopcock that allows cold water into your home to establish that there are no drips coming from it. If you feel it is safe to do so, go up into the loft and make sure that the water tanks are not close to overflowing.

Do make sure that you have adequate buildings and contents cover in place so that, should you suffer water damage, you have the peace of mind of knowing that your claim will be speedily dealt with. In this respect, it is worth noting that here at AIB Insurance we have an extensive panel of insurers who are renowned for providing quality cover but also have an enviable reputation for processing claims. So, if you would like to receive a competitive quotation why not give us a call on 02380 268 351 and speak with a knowledgeable member of our team.