Halifax home insurance goes green

Saturday, 15 November 2008 12:01

Rising demand for eco-friendly home improvements has prompted Halifax to highlight the importance of getting the correct home insurance policy.

The insurer carried out a survey which found one in 10 Brits are choosing to "go green" when they revamp their homes by using reclaimed or green materials.

A promising two thirds of the 2,000 people questioned, said they would consider using green materials in future.

Items such as fireplaces, floor tiles, radiators, baths and paint were cited as the top five reclaimed items to be used for home improvements.

But despite their good intentions, Halifax found a worrying 52 per cent of those surveyed would not consider notifying their insurer to check which newly-created items.

It raised fears this could leave people underinsured and out of pocket in the event of problems.

David Rochester, head of underwriting at Halifax Home Insurance, said Brits were becoming increasingly more eco-conscious. He added: "Items such as fireplaces, baths and tiles have traditionally been popular, but many households are now likely to consider solar panels or wind turbines.

"Halifax Home Insurance can provide cover for such items, but consumers must be aware that many home insurance policies do not, which could leave them underinsured and facing a large bill in the event of problems."

Halifax also offers unlimited buildings and contents insurance which could cover reclaimed materials such as tiles and fireplaces.

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