Homeowners spend £1.8bn on wet feet
Water leaks within the home are costing British homeowners a total of £1.8 billion a year, according to new figures.Data from Halifax Home Insurance suggested that around 3.3 million households across the country are affected by water leaks each year, including leaking showers, taps left running, burst water tanks and pipes, leaking dishwashers and flooding washing machines.Washing machines are the biggest cause of water damage in the home each year, accounting for 14 per cent of cases, closely followed by showers (ten per cent), burst pipes (seven per cent), leaking baths (seven per cent) and 'human error' (seven per cent).One in three homeowners (36 per cent) in Britain do not have buildings insurance and, as water damage costs an average of £560 per incident to put right, this can lead to costly bills. Around 60,000 people a year are forced to fork out more than £10,000 as a result of water damage each year.Vicky Emmott, Halifax Home Insurance senior underwriter, said: "Changing fashions in the housing market have increased the likelihood of homes being damaged by leaking water. The trend for homes with multiple bathrooms and the current vogue for wet rooms have significantly increased the risk of water leaks and damage in the home."Homeowners are advised to prevent leaks and water damage by regularly checking pipes and appliances, ensuring taps are turned off after use, lag pipes to protect against frost and use reputable tradespeople.
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