Property in the UK faced an average winter damage bill of £1,635 in 2012/2013 and 12% of homes have been damaged by severe winter weather in the past five years, new research has found.
Overall the cost of repairs to residential properties caused by severe weather exceeded £1.5 billion, according to the research published by Direct Line home insurance, and the fear is that it could be even more this winter.
The nationwide study reveals the devastation caused by severe winter weather in the last five years. Of the properties damaged in the period surveyed, 43% had problems with their roofs, 23% struggled with frozen pipes, and boiler failure affected 18% of homes. Some 9% even had to move out of their home as a result of winter weather damage.
Other damage included fences and garden walls affecting 24% of properties, some 19% suffered an interruption to their power supply, 12% a central heating failure, and 10% damaged windows. But home owners are not taking the correct steps to minimise the damage. Just 35% of households had their boiler serviced, 24% cleared their gutters and only 20% lagged their pipes.
‘At this time of year it is easy to forget to service a boiler or lag your pipes when rushing around buying presents and festive decorations. Taking basic precautions to prevent against common problems such as frozen pipes doesn’t need to be time consuming or expensive. However, people that don’t invest in protecting their homes could face a nasty surprise as we face up to Arctic weather conditions,’ said celebrity DIY expert Tommy Walsh.
The research also shows that over 1.6 million households have yet to turn on their central heating this winter and 32% have delayed turning on their heating this year. ‘While many householders are trying to save money on their heating bills, they could find they face serious issues as a result of frozen or burst pipes when the temperature plummets,’ Walsh pointed out.
According to Katie Lomas, head of Direct Line home insurance, it is important to plan ahead and make sure homes are properly protected from the winter weather. ‘During the colder months, leave the heating on at approximately 15 degrees on the thermostat to avoid cold related property issues. Find out now where your stopcock is and know how to turn off the water supply in event of an emergency. You really don’t want to be looking for it when water is coming through the ceiling it a pipe bursts in the cold,’ she explained.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is advising home owners to check their properties to help stop the predicted harsh weather from taking its toll on their property, heating and maintenance bills.
It points out that properties are vulnerable to attack both from the outside elements and the moist, warm conditions that build up inside during the winter months. RICS advises property owners to check roofs, walls, floors, windows and doors but also points out that letting a property breath the warm air out is as important as stopping the cold air coming in.
‘Today’s lifestyle of showers, washing up, periodic short bouts of heating throughout the day and a lack of ventilation can lead to a build-up of what amounts to litres of water daily that forms condensation and damp on window sills, furniture and walls. This problem can be prevented by simply opening the windows every now and then. Unfortunately security and ventilation are conflicting requirements,’ said chartered surveyor Roy Ilott.
