Research shows many take a risk on their home insurance

Many people leave their garden sheds unlocked, new research has found.

New research released today (July 19th) shows that many people are running a risk with their contents and buildings insurance cover.

According to Marks & Spencer, nearly half of all people - 49 per cent - admit that they put their home insurance policies at risk by leaving their garden shed unlocked.

And with many annual insurance packages not covering items left in a shed outside, this could lead to homeowners facing expensive costs if they were to fall victim to theft and had to pay for replacement goods out of their own back pocket.

The retailer's financial arm found that the average storage outhouse in Britain now contains some £988 worth of property - a figure which is £100 higher than last year.

Meanwhile, Graeme Trudgill, technical and corporate affairs director at the British Insurance Brokers Association, said recently that homeowners should not necessarily simply get the cheapest home insurance cover available to them.

By Joe Letts