Properties across the UK are being left ripe for burglary this Spring as nearly six million* homeowners reveal they can break into their own home.

New research from Zurich Insurance shows that a third of homeowners surveyed (32 per cent)* believe they could break into their own home - and one in ten have actually done so.

Shockingly, the study reveals that among those who have broken into their own home, two-thirds (67 per cent) did so in less than 15 minutes, with more than a quarter (28 per cent) able to do so in under five minutes. And apparently it’s as simple as climbing through an open window (37 per cent) while the more resourceful have retrieved a key with a makeshift hook (four per cent).

The findings come as Zurich launches a new website, www.BreakinBritain.co.uk, which offers users a burglar’s-eye-view of their property, highlighting the common security risks in the home.

Despite nearly half of those who have broken into their own home (48 per cent) saying they are concerned by the ease with which this was done, many reveal that their home security is often compromised simply by their, or their family’s, own lax attitudes. One in six (17 per cent) say that forgetfulness jeopardises their property, whilst 15 per cent think that complacency increases their property’s risk. Over half the homeowners surveyed (57 per cent) admit to basic security lapses, such as leaving windows open while going out (12 per cent) and leaving keys in locks (18 per cent).

The study also included a separate survey of burglars, with the majority (87 per cent) saying that most break-ins are actually opportunistic. The most common mistakes householders make include leaving a window open, not having a burglar alarm, making it obvious that the house is empty and leaving the backdoor open or unlocked, giving burglars an open invitation to enter the house.

Deterrents the ex-lags say put them off include simple measures such as installing window locks on old windows, keeping valuables out of site, putting lights on a timer switch and having external security lights.

Reassuringly, traditional British neighbourly values are still prominent as deterrents to criminals as well, with over half (56 per cent) of homeowners saying they get a neighbour to check on their properties daily when they are away. Two fifths (39 per cent) also get their neighbours to pick up their post and other deliveries - a wise move, as two thirds of burglars (64 per cent) said this simple step would deter them from targeting homes.

Reformed criminal, now probation officer, Bob Turney, agrees that thieves look to capitalise on householders mistakes: “Burglars want an easy way in - and most burglaries are simply a result of thieves taking advantage of householders who’ve left their homes wide open and there for the taking. Windows left open, shoddy locks, or when it’s blatantly obvious that people are away are some of the most common mistakes made.

“And if you know that your home security isn’t what it should be and can break into your own property in less than five minutes, a professional burglar can do it in half the time.”

Mike Quinton, Managing Director for Direct & Partnerships at Zurich Insurance said: “If homeowners can break-in to their own properties that’s a major warning sign for them to take stock of their security measures. Breakinbritain.co.uk can really help people see how burglars might look at their property. We’ve also thrown in some hints and tips on how to keep their property safe. While you don’t need to turn your house into a fortress, it is always important to take proper precautions and update your home security.”

** According to the Communities and Local Government’s Housing Survey there were 18,522,000 owner occupied houses in the UK in 2006. 32% of homeowners surveyed said they could break into their own homes. Therefore a third of 18,522,00 = 5,927,040

Halifax Home Insurance’s Senior Manager of Structural Claims, Neil Curling, is available for interview on the issue of subsidence.  During the spring months, homeowners who may be at risk of subsidence in the summer can take measures to reduce the risk of their house suffering from this problem.  In extreme cases, subsidence can cause major structural damage to homes, but paying special attention to the trees and vegetation around a property can go a long way towards reducing the risk of a subsidence problem.

Neil Curling heads up a team of 30 structural engineers and surveyors who handle all Halifax Home Insurance’s subsidence claims.  Neil has a wealth of knowledge and advice for homeowners on the issue of subsidence, from the various causes of subsidence affecting different areas of the UK, to how to avoid a problem and how to get help if you think your home may be at risk.

Premium hikes widely predicted for both car and home insurance because of increasing costs and the aftermath of last year’s flooding are not being realised, the latest benchmark AA British Insurance Premium Index reveals.

Home premium rises dry up

Home insurance premiums changed little over the first quarter of 2008.  The average quoted premium for buildings cover fell by just 42p to £208.51 and the Shoparound premium (an average of the lowest three quotes from each Index risk) fell by just 34p.

• “I expected the upward trend in premiums since last July’s flooding to continue,” Andrew Strong says.  “I believe the slight fall in average quoted premiums for buildings cover is explained by a rise in the number of risks not being quoted by some insurers, suggesting sensitivity to flood risk.”
• However, he emphasises that this does not mean families will find their homes becoming uninsurable. “It is more likely that insurers will want to know more - for example what flood protection measures are being taken by local authorities - before quoting, while an existing insurer will continue to provide cover following a flood.”
• Under the ABI Statement of Principles for the Provision of Flood Insurance* the industry agrees to insure flood-risk customers provided adequate investment in flood defences continues.  “But the Government shouldn’t take it for granted that the agreement will continue to be renewed indefinitely. It’s vital that proper investment is made to protect homes and businesses from flood risk and that careful consideration is given to the location of new housing stock.”
• He adds that although buildings insurance premiums increased last year to their highest point ever, they are still only 4.5 per cent higher than when the Index started in 1994: “Home insurance continues to offer remarkable value for money,” he says.

Home insurance at a glance

• Average buildings insurance premiums fell 0.2% to £208.51 (£208.93 in the previous quarter). The Shoparound premium, an average of the lowest three quotes for each risk, fell by 0.3% to £120.70 from £121.04
• Average contents insurance premiums rose 1.0% to £128.57 (£127.24 in previous quarter). The Shoparound premium rose by 0.3% from £70.08 to £70.29
• Average combined home and contents insurance quotes fell 1.4% from £297.19 to £293.11. The Shoparound premium rose by 0.3% from £183.31 to £183.80.

he UK’s gardens are turning into little goldmines crammed with exotic plants, hi-tech tools and luxury furniture worth a whopping £18.6 billion*, new research by home experts Lloyds TSB Insurance reveals.The survey into the nation’s backyards found that the contents of the average garden are worth £1,237, while one in ten gardens (10 per cent) is filled with goodies worth over an incredible £3,000.  In a typical garden, the most expensive single item is on average £426 but one in 20 gardens (5 per cent) has a single item over £1,000.

With spring well and truly sprung, Brits can’t seem to get enough of their outdoor space.  One quarter of Brits (26 per cent) enjoys more than six hours a week in their garden during the spring and summer months.

One third (33 per cent) of gardens has ornamental plants, one quarter (25 per cent) has statues and ornaments while one in five (22 per cent) has a water feature.  Almost one in ten (7 per cent) has a patio heater while 6 per cent has a sun house.

And Brits plan to splash out further on their gardens this summer.  Half (50 per cent) spend £200 on their garden every year while 3 per cent spend over £750.  Top of the gardener’s ‘wish list’ for 2008 is a wallet-busting hot tub, followed by decking and water features.

But despite spending so much on their gardens, most Brits don’t know whether they are insured properly.  Over half (55 per cent) have never checked that their garden contents are included on their home insurance, while 87 per cent don’t review the value of their gardens each year to make sure they are covered.  But Lloyds TSB Insurance warns that accidents do happen.  Last year, the insurer processed 5,244 garden claims with an average value of £726.

Phil Loney, managing director, Lloyds TSB Insurance said; “Everyone knows that we Brits are a nation of green-fingered garden lovers who like nothing better than spending time in the great outdoors.  It’s hard to put a price on the pleasure of a barbeque on a summer’s evening but gardeners should stop to think exactly how much their backyards are worth.

“With all the gadgets and goodies that are available, they can quickly add up and gardeners run the risk of being under insured.  A typical garden claim for Lloyds TSB Insurance is over £700; but in our survey, Brits estimated their backyards to be worth on average £1,237.    Home insurance policies vary greatly and often have limits on how much they cover outside.  Take time to calculate the value of everything outdoors and choose a policy to suit your gardening needs.”

Top 10 garden wish list for summer 2008

1. Hot tub
2. Decking
3. Water feature
4. Table and chairs
5. Green energy i.e. wind turbine
6. Outside lighting
7. Gas BBQ
8. Ornamental plants
9. Swing seat
10. Sun house

Lloyds TSB Home Solutions policy has been awarded ‘five stars’ for quality of cover by Defaqto, an independent financial product research company.  The contents policy covers loss or damage to growing trees, shrubs or plants following fire, theft or vandalism up to £250 per plant and up to £1,000 for any event.  It also covers for loss, damage and theft of items in the open within the boundary of the home up to £1,000 for any one event. Lloyds TSB building insurance automatically covers wind turbines, solar panels, sun houses and hot tubs.

Mike Powell, of independent financial research company, Defaqto added, “Our research shows that less than one third of the home policies available on the market cover contents in the garden up to £1,000 and only one in five covers at least £1,000 for garden plants. Garden cover is a valuable benefit and when choosing a policy, consumers should take care to understand the extent of the cover on offer.”

New research from Halifax Home Insurance reveals that neighbours caused £173 million of damage to next door properties last year after their home improvement disasters spilt over the garden fence.  From water cascading into neighbouring properties through pierced pipes, demolished party walls and even broken ornaments, over 590,000 British homes were damaged in 2007 by these so-called ‘Neighbourhood Botchers’.  It is not just over-ambitious DIYers that were to blame, with one-in-ten blaming building calamities on professional workmen.

Shockingly, in one-in-three (32%) cases the victim was forced to foot the bill for repairs or claim on their own home insurance policy. In a further 27% of incidents the costs had to be shared between both parties.

Neighbourly relations in the South-East may be particularly strained as the region leads the way when it comes to neighbourhood botches, accounting for 29% of incidents, closely followed by Northern England at 27%.  While in the last five years the average neighbourly DIY disaster in Scotland costs the most to repair at an average of £817, the region accounts for just 11% of recorded incidents.  Wales and the South West ranked second highest of the UK regions surveyed with an average repair bill of £359, followed by the North of England with £320.

David Rochester, Head of Underwriting at Halifax Home Insurance, said: “A number of errant DIYers are not just damaging their properties, but their neighbours’ homes too. But even more interesting is that so many victims handle the situation with typically British aplomb. Indeed, over two-thirds of them chose to pay towards the cost of repairing their home - rather than create a fuss.  Perhaps they weren’t aware that they could have claimed for repairing the damage on their neighbour’s insurance policy.”

Halifax Home Insurance also covers householders for any damage they may have accidentally caused to a neighbour’s property, due to a domestic mishap such as a DIY disaster, under its Home Contents policy.

It is worth bearing in mind the requirements of the Party Wall Act, which requires that homeowners give notice and agree with their neighbour any significant work to be undertaken to a party wall before starting the work.  Failure to do this could result in any subsequent claim for damages being rejected.

1) Research conducted by ICM amongst 2009 UK homeowners in February 2008. Figures have been rebased to reflect the number of households in the UK according to the Annual Abstract of Statistics.

Nearly one in three (30%) Britons think that rebuild cost is the same or more than purchase price, according to Confused.com - the UK’s leading insurance price comparison site. According to Confused.com research, spanning six months, 10% of consumers thought that rebuild cost and purchase price were the same, and 20% thought that rebuild cost was higher than the initial building cost - a mistake which could prove to be extremely costly to 30% of Britons.

In fact, a semi-detached house, worth around £180k and measuring 742 square feet, with a garage, would cost £85,700 to rebuild if it was located in the south-east and £79,700 to rebuild if it was in the north-east.

Debra Williams, managing director, Confused.com comments:

“The fact that one in three consumers consider rebuild cost to be the same as purchase price is unprecedented, and could see them paying over the odds year-on-year. Being financially savvy certainly pays; not only does it mean that consumers can gauge whether they are paying an acceptable amount for insurance, but they are more likely to shop around for lucrative deals if they feel that they are being sold short.

“Price comparison sites are designed to help consumers find the best deal available on the market, so that they do not find themselves out of pocket when applying for home insurance. However, the importance of basic financial knowledge should not be underestimated when it comes to finding the best deals out there.”

Most of the runners will be focused on making it round the gruelling 26.2 mile course and many will not have thought about the valuable items in their possession such as keys, mobile phones or MP3 players. Direct Line is reminding wannabe-Radcliffes that it is easy to lose or damage items carried in pockets while running the Marathon or just a simple evening jog.

Andrew Lowe, Head of Direct Line Home Insurance, said, “Running is a fantastic way of keeping fit, as those taking part in the London Marathon this weekend will testify. However anyone who goes running, whether in a race or just for fun, faces the challenge of carrying valuables when on the move.”

As summer approaches and more people venture outside for tennis, a run or even a quick round of Frisbee in the park, they should ensure they have adequate cover in the event that their wallet, keys or MP3 player go missing.

Direct Line offers a range of home insurance policies which cover your personal possessions when outside the home. Direct Line home insurance also covers the cost of your mobile phone or MP3 player on a new-for-old basis up to £250** and digital cover for non tangible items such as down loaded music tracks.

Andrew Lowe concludes: “Additionally, if you head out with your MP3 player or mobile phone, remember to back up your collection of songs or phone numbers; while insurance will cover the replacement of the item, these have a greater personal worth than their sale value. Ensuring cover is in place means that you can have peace of mind and can concentrate on enjoying or enduring your run!”

Nationwide provides home insurance advice in advance of April showers.

Following the recent bad weather and as the notorious April showers approach, Nationwide Building Society offers advice for those who could be at risk of flooding and storm damage.

Whether a home is rented or owned it is important to have the right level of insurance cover in place. Price is still a key consideration, so it is always a good idea to shop around as some home insurance providers have hidden costs such as charges for paying by Direct Debit.

Nationwide recommends those affected by flood water or storm damage should:

* Check whether their insurance company offers alternative accommodation;
* Inform their insurer as soon as possible - some insurers have a 24 hour helpline for policyholders to call if in need of advice;
* Carry out minor emergency repair works that will prevent further damage;
* Keep affected furniture until authorised to dispose of it by a loss adjuster;
* Keep all receipts;
* Move essentials and valuables (for example food, clothing and televisions) upstairs;
* Move furniture away from the walls;
* Claim for vehicle damage under their comprehensive car insurance policy.

For areas affected by flooding, once the water has subsided, homeowners should:

* Oil hinges and locks to prevent corrosion;
* Avoid using electricity or gas;
* Avoid drinking tap water until advised to do so;
* Leave windows and doors open when they’re at home to help dry out the house;

With a loss adjuster’s approval:

* Remove the floor covering;
* Wash walls and floors with disinfectant and water.

Robin Bailey, insurance director at Nationwide, says: “The recent spate of bad weather is a grim reminder of the devastation that extreme weather can cause and highlights the importance of having adequate home insurance cover. Nationwide will do everything it can to assist homeowners affected by floods or storm damage. Our buildings & contents insurance provides great cover features including 24 hour help-lines and the cost of temporary accommodation. We don’t charge customers for paying their insurance premiums by Direct Debit, unlike many other providers” .