Insurance provider warns consumers over renovations
Published on : 29/01/2008
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A UK insurance provider has warned consumers to check what they have covered under their policies before undertaking renovation work on their properties.
Halifax Home Insurance has made the call after its research found that 44 per cent of households have failed to inform their insurer when knocking a wall down.
It also found that a quarter of property owners are invalidating insurance by planning to take down walls themselves rather than enlisting the help of a professional tradesperson.
David Rochester, head of underwriting at Halifax Home Insurance, said: "Any damage to a weight-bearing wall that results in ceiling collapse or other damage could also invalidate a buildings insurance policy.
"They should also seek building regulations advice from their local council or risk difficulty trying to sell their home further down the line."
Nationwide's campaigns manager Charlotte Sjoberg has recently stated that buildings and home contents insurance are equally important for property owners.
She added that both types of cover play "a really important" role in protecting homeowners.
