With scientists advising that British weather will continue getting fiercer, new research released today shows the staggering cost of the colder months as we learn the number of home insurance claims due to winter weather have risen by 200% over the last three years. The average cost to repair damage caused by floods, big freezes and gale force winds is nearly £600, although claims can run into tens of thousands of pounds; with burst pipe damage averaging £25,0002 .

Last winter was the coldest in thirty years, in some areas emergency plumbers were facing over 800 call-outs in just three days1,and the total cost of damage to homes from winter weather now exceeds £600 million per year.

Already this year, we’ve seen flooding hit households in North and East Yorkshire, Cornwall, Devon and parts of Wales. However, the research out today reveals Brits are unprepared for winter and, with one in three households not covered in the instance of winter weather damage, are leaving themselves at risk financially.

The majority of us (71%) understand the onus is on us to ensure our property is in good repair, but less than a third have carried out basic maintenance in the last two years, such as checking for loose tiles, cleaning chimneys or cutting back plants. The importance of these basic checks is grossly underestimated, as even homeowners who have home insurance may still not be covered due to a lack of basic maintenance.