The AnswerBank Articles

The Cost Of Running A Home Is Rising

As every homeowner knows the cost of running a household can be almost as much as paying the mortgage. Whether it is a bijou studio apartment or a rambling 60 bedroom mansion the same bills come through the door every month. The cost of maintaining a home over the course of a year has risen, new figures from recent re...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Thatched Cottage Owners Warned On Fire Risks

Many of us have seen picturesque little hamlets whilst driving through our glorious countryside. Mostly made up of ancient, tiny cottages often with thatch on the roof and roses round the door. This may seem like a bucolic ideal by many in the UK, but you can end up paying a sharp premium for the privilege without the ...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Green Fingers Can Put Thousands On the Value Of Your Home

Tidying up a scruffy garden can add as much as £8,600 to the value of your home claims new research, but most people are missing out by failing to exercise their green fingers. Two thirds of homeowners missed out on the premium when they moved home last year, passing up a potential £5.9 billion in total. Th...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

RICS Issues Subsidence Advice

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has issued advice to homeowners who fear that their homes may be at risk of subsidence. It has also warned homeowners to watch out for the first signs of subsidence, which causes the most expensive home insurance claims. Subsidence is caused by a combination of dry we...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Weigh DIY Carefully

Many people find they cannot afford to move house but would like a change, some may turn to DIY to make improvements. All DIY projects may prove equally challenging to the novice handyman, but some are liable to add a good deal more to your home than others new research has revealed. A fitted modern kitchen is most lik...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

House Sharing Home Insurance

Often sharing a house can be fun but it can also lead to arguments over little things like who drank the last of the milk and put the empty carton back in the fridge. Also disagreements over bill payments are common. However, it has come to light that another area of house sharing is causing friction. House-sharers ar...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Gardens Make Or Break In Home Sale

Having a garden is so important to many homeowners that they would give up additional rooms in order to get one, says a new survey. Two thirds of homeowners say that they would give up a utility room for a decent outside space, while more than half would go without an extra bathroom or bedroom. The supply of propertie...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Insurers Issue Call To "Design Out Crime"

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has called for new regulations to "design out crime" in new properties. This would benefit up to 400,000 homeowners in the first year alone and save the economy £3.2billion over the next 20 years. The ABI estimated that simple measures such as burglar-proof doo...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Home Insurance Cut-Off Threatened Without New Flood-Defences

The floods a few years ago took many of us by surprise not least those that were tragically affected. However, it has lead to an insurance back-lash and now insurance companies are refusing to insure without adequate flood defences in place. Half a million homes in the UK are still at high risk of flooding, home insur...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Law-Abiding Give Thieves Easy Ride With Lax Security

We have all done it; popped out of the house for five minutes to visit a neighbour and left the door on the latch. We like to think that where we live is safe as houses. It seems, however, that we should be more careful with our homes and make sure they are locked up even if we are only going next door to borrow a cup ...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Britons Unconcerned By Burglary Threat

Britain's homeowners are not concerned about the threat of burglary despite living in the most burgled nation in Europe, according to new research. A survey in a well known Sunday newspaper showed that the UK has a burglary rate of almost double that of its European neighbours but research from an insurance firm repor...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Insurers Warn Of Halloween Risks

Halloween is a great time for the kids; they get to go out at night when it is dark, dress up in scary (or otherwise) costumes and best of all they get given mountains of sweets! It can be a bit of a headache for parents having to answer the door every five minutes plus the expense in sweets for children you probably d...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Rural Areas 'Cheaper For Home Insurance'

We all know that where you live can influence choices in your lifestyle. For example, which schools your children go to or which train line you use. However, it seems that our postcode can also make a difference to our home insurance premiums as well. A recent survey has found that people living in some areas of the c...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Insurers Stretched After Bad Weather

Every winter Britain is usually faced with enough severe weather to keep insurers busy. Financial providers are always braced for a peak during the coldest time of year, although the numbers of calls some years far exceed expectations. Some months have seen homeowners subjected to everything from floods and strong win...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Eco-Friendly Home Interest Growing

The interest in owning a house on a carbon-free development is growing, says a green housing official. More than 2,000 people have expressed their desire to buy an environmentally friendly house claims a company specialising in zero energy development. If the home insurance industry were to follow the example set by ...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

People Failing To Take Out 'Clothes Insurance'

Whenever we go on a clothes shopping spree, whether it is to stock up on seasonal clothes or simply a splurge, we rarely think about updating our home insurance afterwards. This could be a mistake according to recent research. While a quarter of Britons own clothes and accessories worth over £2,000, they are cho...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Get A Better Deal Than Your Bank For Home Insurance

Home insurance is not one of the most interesting things to think about; however, many of us are missing out because we cannot be bothered to check out better deals. As often getting a mortgage is conditional upon having some sort of insurance we often simply plump for the easy option and go with our lender. It seems t...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Water Leaks 'Cost Britons £1.8 billion'

Spring is typically the time of year when unseasonably warm spells are interspersed with cold snaps; being the peak time for domestic leaks. When temperatures drop below freezing, frozen water within pipes expand, causing the pipe to swell and crack. Once this thaws, water can leak from the cracks, causing considerable...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Doctor Warns Of DIY Risks

Doing DIY jobs around the home yourself can be fun and saves money. But it seems we need to take more time to consider the health and safety issues involved in Doing It Yourself. Making a few home improvements could be detrimental to your health, with medical experts highlighting the risks associated with common DIY i...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Council Tax Report Backed

Calls for regular council tax revaluations made by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) are finding support among parties looking for greater transparency in the current council tax system. RICS recommends that council tax needs to be assessed and evaluated at regular intervals to ensure full transparen...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010