Direct Line, one of the UK’s leading insurers, has launched a new insurance product developed for people who run a business from home.

Cover includes product and public liability plus several add-on options, such as cover for theft or accidental damage to items such as laptops or mobile phones. There is also a free 24 hour advice line offering emergency assistance and legal advice.

The home business insurance policy is available via the umbrella brand ‘Direct Line for Business’ which is an addition to the suite of products launched last autumn. Other products being launched this spring include insurance for small offices, hotels and pubs.

Kate Syred, spokesperson for Direct Line for Business, commented:

“Providing insurance for people that run their business from home is a natural extension to the existing Direct Line product range. Many people are unaware of their liability to their clients for the products and services they provide or the impact if the business is interrupted due to an incident in the home. Direct Line is already a leader in car and home insurance and now home businesses can take advantage of the benefits of being a Direct Line customer”

“Direct Line’s home business insurance is available to people direct. The product itself is flexible and represents good value for money whilst meeting the individuals’ needs.”

All the products are available via Direct Line’s specialist commercial call centre (0845 303 1760) or online at www.directlineforbusiness.co.uk.

But it’s not just garden centres preparing to do a roaring trade – it’s garden thieves too, advises RIAS.

The increasing popularity of garden makeovers and the concept of the ‘outdoor room’ means that Britons are now spending over £4 billion a year on plants, pots, furniture, garden tools and other garden items, yet many do little or nothing to protect their investment against the rising tide of garden crime, and often leave themselves vulnerable to theft and vandalism.

RIAS has discovered research carried out by gardening organisations, including the Horticultural Trades Association, and police statistics revealing that claims of over 1 million garden thefts per year are not exaggerated.

“Sadly we are all now sitting targets for garden theft,” says RIAS Managing Director Janet Connor, “yet people are not taking anywhere near enough precautions. Most home insurance policy holders don’t realise that the garden and its contents may not be routinely protected by their existing cover in the event of theft, loss or damage, and it’s costing victims as much as £400million per year to replace stolen property. We strongly advise people to check their home insurance policy today, and make sure additional provision for garden cover is added if it is not there already. ”

Garden thieves, as well as green-eyed opportunists, have become bolder over the years: some unscrupulous landscapers steal to order and re-sell plundered assets to unsuspecting clients; ‘garden stripping’ is becoming more common, with people returning home to find their entire garden removed including all plants, trees, water features, furniture, ponds full of fish and even the lawn; and the proceeds of random pilfering lines thieves’ pockets as stolen tools, pots and ornaments end up at car boot sales. Whatever its extent or scale, garden crime is on the rise and causes significant distress and financial loss.

There are several steps RIAS advises homeowners to take can take to lessen the risk of theft:

• always lock away all tools and equipment in a garden shed or garage
• install security lighting which comes on automatically
• consider using gravel in the driveway, or in the access way to the garden, as this acts as audible warning of visitors/intruders
• enclose the garden as much as possible with fencing and lockable gates, as this will make it more difficult for thieves to remove larger items such as furniture
• when buying and digging in new plants, always remove garden centre tags as these are popular targets for thieves
• plant a living barrier to restrict access  - throny shrubs such as pyracantha, blackthorn, blue pine and holly are effective deterents
• take photographs of larger, more expensive items such as statues, water features and garden furniture, in case of a claim
• weather can also cause loss and damage in the garden, make sure you protect any moveable items from weather extremes such as high winds and flooding
• make sure the appropriate insurance cover is in place

Saga Home Insurance warns consumers to be extra vigilant once the clocks go forward this weekend, as new statistics from Saga reveal that there are 42% more theft claims during British Summer Time (BST) than there are during the winter months*.Paul Green, Head of Group Communications, Saga, commented: “As the evenings become lighter after the clocks go forward, people can become less security conscious, which results in a higher rate of burglaries.  Lighter and warmer evenings often mean we spend more time outside and people leave windows open to let in the summer air.  Many burglars take advantage of an open window, so ensuring yours are closed whenever you are not in the house is essential. It is also best to make sure you do not leave any items outside unnecessarily. Nearly half of all burglaries happen when a home is empty, so if you go on holiday this summer, try to arrange for a neighbour, friend or family member to visit your house every couple of days to check everything is OK and to make it look like it is occupied.”

Sainsbury’s Finance estimates that the storms that have battered many parts of the country this month, have so far generated as many as 20,400 home insurance claims.However, it warns that hundreds or thousands of other homes may have been damaged by the recent storms but are without insurance.  Indeed, its research reveals that 10% of adults are without contents insurance and 5% of those people who own a home do not have buildings cover.

Neil Laird, Home Insurance Manager, Sainsbury’s Finance said: “Bad weather is increasingly the culprit when it comes to damage to homes and really highlights the importance of having adequate cover in place.

“If you have been unlucky enough to have your home or car damaged by the storms, our advice is to contact your insurer now and not delay in submitting your claim so you can get back to normal as soon as possible.”

Despite the fact that home insurance premiums are reportedly rising, Sainsbury’s has announced that it is offering 12 months home insurance cover for the price of nine, and a further 10% discount if you buy online.  The offer is available to those purchasing both buildings and contents cover together between 25^th March and 26^th May 2008.

Neil Laird, Home Insurance Manager, Sainsbury’s said: “Home insurance policies vary dramatically so its essential people compare policies not only on price but also on the level of cover they provide. Quality cover such as unlimited buildings insurance doesn’t have to be expensive and although premiums have been rising, by shopping around and taking advantage of discounts such as ours, there are significant savings to be made.”

One in four Britons do not have adequate home contents insurance, says Confused.com – the UK’s leading insurance price comparison siteThis figure is particularly startling, given that most homes are veritable treasure troves full of valuables, such as flat screen televisions, personal computers, laptops, games consoles and jewellery, to name a few. Insuring home contents worth £40,000 can cost a mere £43.98 per year for a family of four, but the key is to shop around.

With many Brits heading away for the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, this worrying lack of cover is a timely reminder to Britons who are leaving themselves exposed to theft, or over-zealous DIY fanatics who inadvertently cause damage to their homes.

Debra Williams, managing director, Confused.com comments:

“Contents insurance is not a legal requirement, but should really be considered an absolute necessity. Many people decide against contents cover without considering the potential pit- falls involved. Even the most obvious precautions, such as remembering not to ‘advertise’ your new plasma screen TV by leaving the box outside your front door, or remembering to properly lock up when leaving the home, can sometimes fall by the wayside. It is for this reason that belongings need to be adequately covered.

“By failing to insure their home contents, Britons are potentially setting themselves up for a large bill, not to mention emotional turmoil, should they be unfortunate enough to suffer any loss or damage. By shopping around, consumers can end up saving a fortune on home insurance, but you can’t put a price on peace of mind.”

DIY enthusiasts could cause up to £25million worth of damage in British homes this Easter weekend - one of the most popular periods for taking on home improvements.

Research suggests that a clumsy 16 per cent of people have damaged their homes or their property carrying out a DIY improvement and the industry expects to pay out anything up to £25 million* for DIY-related damage this Easter.

A survey of 2,000 householders by Allianz Insurance also found that nearly 30 per cent of people admit they have injured themselves or someone else while carrying out a DIY job. This figure is supported by the fact that an estimated 200,000 DIY enthusiasts turn up at hospital each year**.

Worryingly, 55 per cent admitted to starting a DIY job without the correct tools and almost 50 per cent said that they had started a DIY job without really knowing how to do it - including electrical and plumbing jobs.

Simon Coughlin, spokesman for Allianz Insurance, said: ‘Before they start, we suggest DIY enthusiasts should check to see if their insurance policy covers them for accidental damage in case the job goes horribly wrong. The average cost of a claim for DIY related damage is £600 and our claims staff expect to be busier than usual following a Bank Holiday weekend.’

Householders in the north east of England have the most DIY disasters, while people in the south east are least likely to have a mishap.

Men are more likely to do DIY around the home, with the survey finding that women are more DIY active in only 13 per cent of households.

Homer Simpson type men exist in one in ten homes where the woman of the house does the majority of DIY repairs.

A fifth of people admit to having one uncompleted DIY job on the go at the moment, with 6 per cent of households having five or more jobs unfinished. One householder admitted taking six days to put up a shelf and another spent more then seven years tiling their bathrooms.

Simon Coughlin added: ‘Thankfully people can add accidental damage cover to their buildings and contents insurance to cover them for paint spilt on carpets or hammering a nail into a pipe.

‘We encourage people to take good care of their homes but it is important they know what they are doing and use the right tools for the job.’

Survey

* Statistic calculated using Allianz Insurance claims data.

** According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

Survey of 2000 UK householders carried out in March 2008 by onepoll.com on behalf of Allianz Insurance.

However, we remind our customers that it can also play an important role in protecting the home from unwelcome intruders.

Mick Kelly, manager of the website neighbourhoodwatch.net was keen to point out the importance of this time of year saying “As the clocks go forward our message is take steps now to prevent British Summer Crime. Police figures show that over half of all break-ins occur from the back of the house. Now is the time to get out into the garden and make sure your fencing has stood up to the winter gales.”

So while you’re clipping your clematis and planting your petunias this March, take a look at Tesco Home Insurance’s top ten tips to make your garden a force to be reckoned with:-

1. Plant prickly plants and bushes such as roses under window sills, to prevent easy entry. For the casual gardener, holly is prickly but fairly low maintenance.
2. Add loose trellises to fences or walls around your back garden, these are too unstable to climb over and can provide excellent terrain for climbing plants such as fast growing vines and honeysuckle.
3. Use gravel for paths as the idea of creating noise will deter the opportunist thief.
4. Prune low tree branches (below 7ft) to avoid providing cover or potential access to the house. Also trim tree branches close to upper windows as they may provide access.
5. Position security lighting at vulnerable exits or somewhere that will cast obvious shadows.
6. Give garden gates 3 bolts - top, middle and bottom and padlock the middle one, to prevent burglars exploiting a weakness.
7. Position outdoor dustbins well clear of any potential entrances.
8. Ensure your shed is secure and expensive items are not visible from the window.
9. Never leave tools out as they can be used to break-in.
10. Secure your garage as those with interior doors can be an easy way in and provide cover for thieves.

Allan Burns, head of Tesco Home insurance commented: “Now is a good time to raise awareness of how to improve home security by using the environment outside your home. Many burglaries are carried out by opportunists, so by making it difficult, you can reduce your chances of them even trying.”

Neighbourhoodwatch.net added: “Getting to know your next-door neighbours can also pay dividends. Areas where Neighbourhood Watch groups are active tend to have much lower levels of crime – simply because neighbours are looking out for one another.”

‘Operation Bumblebee’ – the MET Police’s anti-burglary campaign suggest the following examples of plant families that may aid a secure garden:

Trellis/ Climbing Plants

Rosa – Rose, Smilax, Rubus – bramble family

Plants to go alongside your fence or wall

Osmanthus, Firethorn, Colletia, Chaenomeles – quince, Sea Buckthorn, Mahonia

Hedge plants

Prunus, Ulex – gorse, Common Hawthorn, Poncirus, Berberis – Barberry, Ilex – holly.

Research has shown that, contrary to popular belief, men are not natural DIYers.  In a survey of over 1,500 homeowners conducted for Halifax Home Insurance, over a third of men admitted they don’t really like DIY and only do it out of a sense of duty.  A further third of males (32%) said they feel under pressure by their partners or other family members to be able to DIY.

With almost a third of women (31%) expecting their men to be competent DIYers, and nearly half (49%) rating DIY skills as highly desirable in a potential partner, many men are feeling under pressure to demonstrate their DIY skills (or lack of) this Easter weekend.  Conversely, only (2%) of men said they expect their partners to be able to undertake DIY tasks, suggesting double standards among co-habiting couples.

The research suggests that, in a bid to impress their partners, many men may be planning to attempt ambitious and potentially dangerous home improvement projects this Easter involving building, gas or electrical works.  Figures showed that over a quarter of men have attempted electrical wiring at home, while almost a quarter of men surveyed (24%) have attempted to fit an entire new kitchen.

Halifax warns that people who undertake large home improvement jobs themselves, without the proper qualifications or experience, risk invalidating their home insurance policies if things go wrong.

Senior Claims Manager Martyn Foulds explains: “TV home makeover shows make it all appear so simple, and it’s easy to forget that these are highly skilled professionals.  In reality, trying to tackle certain areas you are not qualified for such as electrics or plumbing could invalidate your home insurance policy, leaving you liable for any subsequent damage.  We’d recommend using a reputable tradesman rather than going it alone.”

Halifax, the UK’s third largest home insurer, also recommends homeowners check their home insurance policy details before embarking on a DIY project, and consider taking out accidental damage cover for added protection.

Accidental breakage to some parts of the home eg. sinks, baths, ceramic hobs and fixed glass in doors is included in most buildings insurance policies, but householders may need additional accidental damage cover to protect against common DIY disasters such as drilling through water pipes, spilling paint on carpets or putting feet through ceilings.

Further research findings showed that older people are more confident at attempting the bigger DIY jobs, with 47% of over 55s happy to tile a bathroom compared to only 30% of 25-34 year olds.  Londoners are least likely to attempt DIY, with over a quarter (26%) saying they’d rather call in a professional compared to only 16% of people living in the Midlands.

Many people are putting their insurance cover at risk by not providing accurate information when applying for insurance.  Sainsbury’s Finance’s new research⁽¹⁾ found that 1.12 million people admit to having knowingly given false information and 12.59 million people admit to making a best guess at information when taking out insurance cover. As a result, the Bank is urging people to make sure that the details they provide are accurate, and if unsure as to exact details, to take time to check.  Whilst most insurers will demonstrate leniency if the inaccuracies are unintentional, at worst the provision of false information can make an insurance policy invalid.

Home insurance topped the “dishonest” list, with 18% of people admitting to having given false information⁽²⁾.  This was followed by car insurance with 15% of people confessing to having given false information and travel and pet insurance with 12% and 4% respectively.

The research revealed that people have different reasons for providing misinformation when taking out insurance.  However, the overriding reason, given by 11% of people is that they didn’t have time to check the correct information whilst in the process of providing details. This excuse is followed by the explanation that it takes too long to gather or research accurate information (8% of people), and the desire to get a cheaper premium or save money (4% of people).

The most diligent age group was seen to be the 16-24 year olds, with only 15.2% admitting to giving inaccurate information when trying to get a quote or buying cover.  Somewhat surprisingly the over 65’s were the most likely group to admit to giving inaccurate information, with 32.5% saying they had either knowingly given false information or made a best guess when trying to get a quote or buy cover.

Steve Johnson, Head of Insurance at Sainsbury’s Finance said: “It really is quite concerning that so many people seem to think it doesn’t matter if they take a guess at the information requested at the point of taking out cover.  Although it may seem like a good idea in an effort to save time, it could become a real headache later when they find they have invalidated their claim.

“If unsure of the answer to a question when getting a quote or buying cover we would encourage people to always take the time to go back and check any details, you can always phone back or gather all your personal documents together and apply online, in some cases you can retrieve online quotes and modify them later.”

Around the UK, those in Scotland are the most likely to give inaccurate information when taking out cover.  The most diligent or “honest” group of people are to be found in the West Midlands.

⁽¹⁾ GfK NOP interviewed 1000 UK adults between 8^th-10^th February 2008.

⁽²⁾ “giving false information” refers to both those who admit to knowingly giving false information and those who have made a best guess if unsure about exact information.