Insurance - Homeowners urged to prepare for cold winter

Homeowners are once again being urged to prepare for what is forecast to be the coldest winter since 1996.

If the predictions are correct, weather-related insurance claims will easily surpass the average £1.2 billion worth of claims settled between 1998 and 2003, Sainsbury's Bank Home Insurance warns.

Karen Preston, home insurance business manager at Sainsbury's Bank said: "We are currently experiencing quite mild temperatures for this time of year and homeowners should take advantage of this to prepare for what could be the coldest winter since 1996.

"This should include carrying out any external repairs to their homes because if these are exposed to bad weather, they could cause thousands of pounds worth of damage."

She added that as many as five million homes may need some form of repairs to their roofs after stormy weather.

Sainsbury's recommends using lagging material to insulate pipes and water tanks, which also saves on heating costs, and checking your loft insulation is thick enough (a minimum of four inches deep) and in good condition.

Is also advises leave the heating on a low setting to maintain an air temperature of at least 10 degrees C if you go away for a few days.

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