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Moving house?
Don’t leave your Home Insurance behind, find out how to stay insured below and get in touch to let us know when you’re moving.
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4 fixes for a home at risk of flood
Dream home in a flood risk area? Make sure all is not lost.
Check whether your new property is in a flood-risk area at Environment-agency. If it is look out for, or budget for these forms of protection.
- Non-return valves on drains, airbrick covers and doorframe covers.
- Plug-points fixed 1.5m above floor level.
- PVC windows are less easily damaged than wood.
- Cement floors and water-resistant materials like stainless steel, ceramic tiles, plastic or solid wood offer greater protection.
![Flooded home]()
Other points to bear in mind
You can find out quite easily whether your new home is on a flood plain at environment-agency.gov.uk. If there is a flood risk, your home insurance premiums and excesses could be affected.
Talk to your insurer about the property before you put in an offer to get a feel for what your premium might be. For more information on flood risks visit the nationalfloodforum.org.uk
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5 top tips to check local crime rates
Make sure you don't end up paying for a crime in a new area.
Here are some ways you can do a drive-by of your new neighbourhood before you buy.
- For England and Wales check out the local crime map at www.police.uk.
- Chat to locals about any problems in the area.
- Look for Neighbourhood Watch stickers in your street.
- Take a drive-by at night. How does the neighbourhood look and feel after dark?
- Ask the local library if there are any local papers that might give you a flavour of local police priorities.
![Lock being picked]()
Other points to bear in mind
Crime levels in an area can be a factor when calculating home insurance premiums. However, in the case of theft, burglaries are often crimes of opportunity, with burglars letting themselves in through doors or windows.
Fitting strong locks on your windows and doors can help, as can joining the local Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. Your premiums may be reduced if your new home has a working intruder alarm.
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6 reasons not to treat soil like dirt
Is your new home on safe ground?
Here are some giveaway signs your potential new structure might be giving way to subsidence.
- Clay soils, ex-mining areas and coastal regions are at most risk of subsidence.
- Look out for cracks that are diagonal, and wider at the head than the base.
- Doors or windows jamming for no reason?
- Wallpaper tearing with no obvious signs of botched DIY?
- Tree roots spread up to three times the height of the tree. Are there any close to the property?
- Houses pre 1940s often have shallower foundations this can add to the subsidence risk.
![Cracks in wall]()
Other points to bear in mind
Subsidence is when the ground beneath a building sinks, pulling the property's foundations with it. If you’re worried the property you’re thinking of buying is subsiding it’s a good idea to get a full structural survey. Costs for the survey start around £600* and it will highlight any issues.
If the property has a problem with subsidence it can be more difficult and expensive to get home insurance, particularly if it has been underpinned. Armed with the facts from a structural survey you can at least negotiate a better price to offset any future insurance costs.
Make sure you know what you’re taking on. Talk to your insurer before you buy the property.
* Source: moneyadviceservice.org.uk.
3 ways to stem a growing tree problem
Don't be green when it comes to trees and insurance.
Planning a move to a bigger garden or out to the leafy suburbs? Make sure your new greenery doesn’t become the root of a bigger problem.
- Ask an arboriculturalist to check whether trees close to the property could cause subsidence.
- Cut back branches touching buildings to allow 2-3 metres clearance.
- Stop leaves blocking drains by covering downpipes with net or chicken wire.
Other points to bear in mind
As a homeowner, you are responsible for any damage or injury caused by trees in your garden. That includes damage caused to drivers or passers-by from overhanging or falling branches, falling trees, as well as thirsty trees close to your property causing subsidence or heave.
If you're thinking of buying a property with a large or overhanging tree it’s worthwhile asking an arboriculturalist to pay you a visit. They can tell you if your new garden is growing a problem and how much to factor in for regular maintenance.
One last tip, check your building insurance covers you for damage caused by trees.
