Homeowners 'ignorant about loft insulation'

One third of all homeowners have never checked the depth of their loft insulation, a third have never checked the lagging around pipes and three out of ten people have never had their central heating boilers looked over.

Of householders who have security alarms, half said that they didn't ever get them checked, and although four out of every five homes now have at least one smoke detector, one in ten people does not ever check that the batteries still work.

Elaine Parkes, head of technical services for Legal & General's general insurance business, says: "Installing a burglar alarm, good quality locks and security lighting or living in a Neighbourhood Watch area are all good preventative measures to help keep our homes secure.

"But a few simple checks could mean that our properties are safer and so avoid the need to make a claim under a household insurance policy."

Home Information Packs (HIPs) have to include a home energy assessment and so lack of cavity wall insulation, roof insulation and inefficient old boilers or heaters will start to penalise homeowners wishing to sell their properties.

Home insurance providers are encouraging people to reduce their premiums by reporting home improvements that increase the eco-rating of their properties.

12/01/2008 10:40:57