Home insurance claims across England are forecast to fall 12.4% for the entirety of 2020.
A study examined the decline in home insurance claims during the March 23 to May 31 coronavirus lockdown and found the following drop rates for the period, along with the corresponding ‘savings’ estimates for the whole year:
- London – 19.32% decrease in claims during the first lockdown
- South East – 18.62%
- North West – 19.08
- East of England – 16.76%
- South West – 17.01%
- West Midlands – 16.05%
- Yorkshire and The Humber – 16.99%
- East Midlands – 18.22%
- North East – 17.94%
Additionally, they projected the estimated year-on-year slide in insurer expenses by claim types. These include water damage (12.99%), weather damage (11.45%), fire damage (11.77%), theft & burglary (13.3%), accidental damage (12.04%), domestic subsidence (15.63%), and other domestic claims (12.04%).
It is not a surprise to see that home insurance claims have decreased in a significant way over 2020, with many Britons stuck at home during a year where very restrictive measures were taken to stop the COVID-19 pandemic.
Landlords urged to check smoke detectors before Christmas
Property owners are reminded it is a legal requirement to ensure their rental property has adequate smoke detectors installed. Some property owners think they are required to install mains powered alarms but this is not the case, as battery technology is also accepted.
Some smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are now manufactured with a 10-year sealed battery unit, and these types of alarms are typically cheaper and more convenient alternative to mains powered alarms. However worryingly, fresh analysis shows that battery-powered smoke alarms actually failed in more than a third of residential property fires in England last year.
Firefighters attended more than 7,500 fires in homes with battery-powered alarms last year and found that 38 per cent failed to alert residents of the danger.
Incorrect positioning caused almost half – 45 per cent – of the failures, while missing or faulty batteries caused 20 per cent.
Landlords are urged to test their smoke alarms regularly, but especially during the run-up to Christmas when festive decorations, candles and lighting pose a potentially greater fire risk.
Of 29,586 property fires attended in England between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019, 22,475 homes were fitted with a smoke alarm. Battery-powered smoke alarms were found in 7,692 of the homes – but, of these, 2,899 (38 per cent) failed to sound.
Mains-powered smoke alarms, by comparison, were less likely to fail, with failures reported in 21 per cent of fires.
Industry figures suggest that one in 10 households do not have a working smoke alarm, while 22 per cent never test theirs. Smoke alarms are proven life-savers, but these worrying ‘failure’ rates are a reminder to people to test their smoke alarms regularly and change batteries where necessary. Smoke alarm ownership has risen over the years to more than 90 per cent, but this encouraging trend is being dangerously undermined if they don’t activate due to faulty batteries.
The run-up to the festive season is a timely reminder of the importance of fire safety, but working batteries aren’t just for toys at Christmas – they are needed in smoke alarms all-year round. With the increased potential fire risk from Christmas trees, decorations, candles and lighting, and people spending more time using heaters, open fires, and cooking hot food during the colder winter months, anyone without a smoke alarm should buy and fit one as soon as possible. They should also check the alarms of less able family members and those on their own – it may save their life.
