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Brits avoid insurance claims on DIY disasters

Adam Williams
Written By:
Adam Williams
Posted:
Updated:
18/05/2015

Nine-in-ten Brits avoid claiming on their insurance for their own botched DIY handiwork.

Research from Nationwide showed more than half (56%) of people admitted they had made mistakes when undertaking DIY projects in their own home.

However, only one-in-ten have recovered some of the costs by claiming on their insurance, the firm said.

Nationwide’s head of general insurance Martyn Dyson said many people were completely ‘unaware they can claim for accidental damage caused in this way’.

Around 80% of people said they preferred to do home improvements themselves, rather than hiring in a professional.

Common tasks were putting up wallpaper and painting (70%), bleeding a radiator (65%) and improving the garden (62%). There are a number of more ambitious home improvers who turn their hand to bigger tasks such as knocking down walls (24%), laying loft insulation (21%), fitting a new kitchen (12%) or fitting a new bathroom (12%).

The survey found the top DIY disasters were:
Spillages, including paint, glue or white spirit – 35%
Marking the walls – 22%
Damage to furniture, breaking a window and damage to flooring – all 10%

Martyn Dyson said: “The Bank Holiday is primetime for getting stuck into jobs around the home you’ve been putting off.  Unfortunately, you can end up causing more damage than good, especially if you’re inexperienced.

“Nationwide’s advice to anyone looking to do home improvements this weekend is to not rush into it, stop and think about the job in hand, be realistic about your capabilities and make sure you are covered if things do go wrong. As the survey shows, many people may be completely unaware they can claim for accidental damage in this way.”


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