Only a 2.6% Rise Since 2007

Home owners going without home insurance to cut the costs of everyday life could breathe a sigh of relief this year as Sainsbury’s Finance releases figures showing only a small rise in the cost of running the average house since 2007.

The cost of running the household can hit unwanted highs and coupled with the ongoing recession it has meant that some people are cutting back on items such as home insurance. However, industry figures warn that such action could end up costing people more in the long run.

Sainsbury’s Home Insurance reveals that the average cost of running the home is around £11,455 annually according to sources such as the Office of National Statistics. This is around £220 a week and a rise of only 2.60% since 2007. Sainsbury’s cites the reduction of mortgage payments as the reason for the lower rise as other areas of the house have actually risen in costs.

One area that has risen is the cost of gas bills in the UK, which have risen on average by around 26.68% since 2007 from £651 to £812 (estimated), with electricity at £14.69%. This is according to figures from Ofgem.

So home owners should think twice about cancelling or failing to take out insurance policies, with a range of risks still facing the average home. Sainsbury’s has recently highlighted the reduction of home insurance claims in 2009, which compared against the increase in burglaries suggests a reduction in the number of people with home insurance. The insurer estimates that 946,000 people have cancelled or reduced their home insurance cover from 2008 to 2009, with 700,000 citing their financial situation.

“We spend thousands of pounds each year running our homes and have often invested even more money on furnishings and decorating,” said Joanne Mallon, Home Insurance Manager for Sainsbury’s Finance, “Yet, so many people are putting this investment at risk by cutting back on their home insurance.

“Good quality home insurance doesn’t have to be expensive.”

As ever, customers are encouraged to shop around for the best deal they can find in home insurance (as is the case with any form of insurance). It could make the difference between no insurance and finding a policy at the right price and an adequate level of protection.

Source: Sainsbury’s Finance Press Release July 2009

A Quarter of Burglary Victims Affected

When applying a monetary figure to the consequences of suffering a burglary, the first task that might come to mind is weighing up the costs of numerous possessions, such as the television set, a DVD collection or other items around the house.

However, if recent figures are to be taken into account then home owners should take other costs into account – those associated with identity theft.

According to LV, the Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society, around a quarter of those that have suffered a burglary in recent times have also succumbed to ID theft, with the average cost of solving the problem amounting to £2,150.

As a result, the Friendly Society, which provides home insurance and other policies, has offered help to those that are covered by its home insurance policy. Those with LV’s home insurance will now be able to access an identity fraud helpline, which is free of charge.

LV= points out that when burglars enter a home, it can often be too easy for them to find  personal documents as the majority of home owners keep them in the same place. They quote an anonymous fraudster that highlights the issue:

“So many people make my job really easy by sticking all the key documents together in one place. And for all the family too, so you often get three or four identities for the price of one, so to speak”

Fraudsters can easily steal a person’s identity with items such as credit cards, ID cards, National Insurance cards and statements from the bank. As a result, they are highly valued on the black market, making them prized possessions for would-be thieves.

So as well as ensuring that home owners have home insurance, it is being urged that they also have security measures in place to protect themselves. This includes ensuring that personal documents are secure and are not all located inside say, a single handbag.

The problem could be of particular concern if statistics from Sainsbury’s Finance are taken into account from November. From the beginning of April to the end of June 2009, the insurer states that 67,000 claims on home insurance were made as a result of theft.

Sources: LV= Press Release Sept 2009 and Sainsbury’s Finance Press Release Nov 2009

Home Owners Should Ensure that they are Adequately Covered

Burglaries in domestic properties rose by 2.8% from the beginning of April to the end of June 2009 compared to the same period the year before, according to figures from the Home Office released last month.

The same period in 2008 saw 65,200 reported burglaries, with this figure rising to 67,000 this year, prompting Sainsbury’s Home Insurance to warn home owners to make sure they are properly insured.

The leading insurance provider revealed that the amount of claims made on home insurance policies has dropped this year, which could highlight the problem according to some people, who point out that it reveals that people might be underinsured. Sainsbury’s reveal that the drop in the amounts of claims made during the reported period was 13%.

Theft of some sort corresponds to 15% of claims made to Sainsbury’s Home Insurance, which means that members of the public are urged to check their policies and ensure that they are covered. They should also read the small print of any policy they are considering taking out so that they will not be left out of pocket if something should occur.

Sainsbury’s also suggest a correspondence between the rise in burglaries and the ongoing recession, with their Home Insurance Manager Ben Tyte commenting on the issue: “A rise in burglaries may not be a surprise during a recession but what is alarming is the decrease in theft-related claims over the same period which we fear may indicate that fewer people have adequate home contents cover in place.

“A significant proportion of all home insurance claims relate to theft, and we would urge homeowners to make sure their home security is up to scratch and that they have adequate home contents cover.”

In many cases, when people are feeling financial strain, insurance policies might be the first to come, but during a recession when everyone is feeling the pinch it leaves people particularly vulnerable to theft. It means that in the long run, getting rid of insurance might not save money at all.

“If you are not insured, becoming a burglary victim could severely hit your pocket,” Tyte adds.

Source: Sainsbury’s Finance Press Release Nov 2009