Check you’re comprehensively covered, urges Insurance business boss. West Craven Insurance Service’s Managing Director Ian Clarkson has this week urged homeowners to check if their insurance policies are up to date and offer comprehensive cover, given a series of conflicting weather reports in recent weeks..
Mr Clarkson, fears that the confusion caused by widely differing weather forecasts for December could lead to complacency.

“I’ve seen numerous articles saying we’re going to have the coldest winter in a century, then I’ve seen the Met Office saying that this isn’t the case,” said Ian.

“Then last week I read a report that said we were due for a mild, wet and windy winter. My fear is that this will lead to complacency on the part of some homeowners.”
“The fact is that the British climate is notoriously unpredictable and we should all make provision for a variety of possibilities. A really cold winter can cause problems with your heating system or your pipes, whereas a mild, wet winter poses the threat of storm damage and even floods,” added Ian

Mr. Clarkson said: “Floods, high winds and heavy rain can damage property – but it can damage your pocket too! You could try to make a claim only to find that your policy doesn’t cover properties in flood areas or even within a certain proximity of a water course.

“I’d also urge people to check their policies – it’s better to be safe than sorry, that way you can rest assured that if it comes to the worse this winter, you are fully covered.”
“We’re seeing these types pf problems increasingly because people go online looking for the cheapest policy, but that often compromises the amount of cover you get. I’d encourage people to look on line for good prices, but consider speaking to a locally based broker too – they will know your area and will offer you better advice as they’ll understand the risks associated with your property. That way, you’ll get a more comprehensive policy, a better price and peace of mind!”

Mr. Clarkson also advised that people take time to detail the extent of any damage caused and take pictures to help settle claims quickly during the busy period.
The Association of British Insurers estimated that extreme weather events last winter led to claims over £500 million.