Homeowners 'failing' to maintain safety measures
Personal insurance
15th December 2008
People with second homes could be among those who are failing to make sure home security measures actually work as they are meant to, new research has found.
A new survey by Legal and General found that while a growing number of people have installed features such as smoke alarms (90 per cent), window locks (72 per cent) and intruder alarms (40 per cent), some are ignoring malfunctions or putting off important repairs.
Insurance expert Ruth Wilkins said a few simple checks could help homeowners avoid having to make a claim on their insurance policy.
She commented: "Although 76 per cent stated that they feel just as safe in their home as they did five years ago, if people are not checking their safety and security measures, they may not be as safe as they think."
Joining a Neighbourhood Watch scheme could also be a good way of safeguarding one's property against theft.
