Everybody needs good neighbours
Posted on April 14th 2008
Neighbours looking over the garden fence may be resented as snooping, or welcomed as just being friendly, but they may well be looking out, fearing the next DIY disaster being played out 'close to home'.
£173 million of damage occurred to next door properties last year after damaged pipework leaked, walls crumbled, and fencing or trees fell.
David Rochester, head of underwriting at Halifax Home Insurance, said: "A number of errant DIYers are not just damaging their properties, but their neighbours' homes too.
"Even more interesting is that so many victims handle the situation with typically British aplomb. Indeed, over two-thirds of them chose to pay towards the cost of repairing their home - rather than create a fuss. Perhaps they weren't aware that they could have claimed for repairing the damage on their neighbour's insurance policy."
One in ten neighbours report that damage was caused to their properties by 'professional' workmen.