| British homeowners are increasingly faced with a | | | | Of the homeowners and tenants that are covered, |
| greater threat of having their homes flooded. However | | | | those in London and Wales are least likely to have a |
| despite the home insurance to cover them in the event | | | | home insurance policy that will protects in the case of |
| that their home does become flooded. Statistics from | | | | floods; even though Wales has seen more than its fair |
| a recent survey show that almost 40 per cent of | | | | share of rain. The region has seen an average |
| homeowners in the UK do not have home insurance | | | | downfall of 3,000 millilitres per annum, while England |
| cover on their property. | | | | has 2,000 millilitres of rainfall, on average every year. |
| The figures also show that men are less likely to take | | | | Rachael Stiles, said: "It has come as quite a surprise |
| out such a policy than women are. On average around | | | | that such a large volume of home owners and tenants |
| 57 per cent of the men involved in the survey, said | | | | have no home insurance cover at all. Particularly |
| that they have a home insurance policy, where as 64 | | | | considering the number of floods we have seen in |
| per cent of women, stated that they would take the | | | | recent years. |
| steps to getting home insurance on their houses that | | | | "With so many homes at risk due to poor flood |
| would protect them against the risk, damages and | | | | defences, home insurance really is a necessity that |
| financial expenses of flooding. | | | | should not be forgone. Brits, are having to watch their |
| This year 2008 marks the second consecutive year | | | | spending as the credit crunch continues to take its toll, |
| of flooding within parts of the UK and for the 10 per | | | | but home contents and building insurance should not be |
| cent of houses, which are most likely to be flooded, | | | | compromised when flooding is such a real possibility in |
| home insurance cover has never been more of a | | | | the UK." |
| necessity. However, despite such risks, more than 38 | | | | In areas that have been affected by floods, insurance |
| per cent of homeowners do not have any form of | | | | providers are calling on policy holders to put forward |
| chance of this happening, one in three homeowners still | | | | excesses of £30,000 as they cannot afford to |
| do not have home insurance cover on their house | | | | fork out the £3 billion that they had to pay out |
| should it become flooded. | | | | for the floods last year. |
| Further statistics from the housing firm, Homecheck | | | | However, it was said that due to the Government's |
| properties, land and assets throughout England and | | | | flood defence measures - which should protect |
| Wales, that are worth around £214 billion are | | | | homeowners that are at higher risks of flooding - are |
| presently at risk of being flooded and if they are | | | | so low, that insurers are hesitant to provide cover for |
| affected by a flood, the homeowners will have bills | | | | people who, having been already affected by flooding, |
| amassing several thousands of pounds to pay for. | | | | have been forced to make a claim. |