DIY Is Costly To Your Home Insurance

DIY could have costly effects on your home insurance claims. While bank holiday weekends prompt many proud householders to tackle do-it-yourself home improvements, which can add value to their property, insurers warn that over-ambitious DIY projects can end up causing damage that costs thousands of pounds to put right.

According to insurer Zurich, almost one-in-six homeowners who have done DIY have had to call in the experts to fix their mistakes. A third of those who needed to call in professional help were merely trying to save cash by making home improvements themselves, but their best intentions cost them more in the long run.

Steve Gilbert, Zurich's technical underwriting manager, said: "Doing it yourself can be a great achievement but we would like to remind all DIY novices that they can often endanger themselves and their property, so if you are unsure, always call in a professional.

"It is a good idea to call your insurer to check that you are covered in the event of DIY going wrong, and certainly to make sure that any structural changes will not void your policy.

“If you live in a newer home, you should also make sure that any work you carry out, no matter how significant, will not invalidate the building guarantee the property may have."

The growing popularity of home renovation shows on television misleads some people into believing they can do it all themselves, said Debra Williams, managing director of comparison website Confused.com.

She added: "A beautiful modern bathroom is on the wish-list of many homeowners and can add to the value to you home. However, fitting a bathroom is a complicated job, one that should really be left to a plumber.

"You will need to inform your insurer as any alterations, even minor ones, can compromise a payout from your insurer. For example, adding an en-suite to your bedroom would be considered an extra room – as you would have already informed your insurer about the number of rooms your property has, not telling them about the change would give them grounds to refuse a pay-out. The insurance premium may increase temporarily, but this is a small price to pay for being covered in case an ill-fitted bath leaks."

Water damage can prove extremely expensive to put right. Leaks in bathrooms and kitchens are one of the biggest areas for household claims, with the average cost coming in at £2,000. With the average home using an amazing half a tonne of water every day, perhaps it is not surprising how much damage can be caused if your en-suite or shower room springs a leak.

According to Norwich Union, the country's biggest insurer, one of the main areas for concern is failed plumbing joints and homeowners attempting technical plumbing jobs often find themselves to blame. A leak can often remain undiscovered for weeks, until a damp patch appears or water starts seeping into the room. If not dealt with immediately, water can seep through walls and floors, wreaking havoc on a home.

Paul Engledow, household underwriter at Norwich Union, said: "Check the sealant around your bath or shower and inspect the grouting around the tiles, but do not attempt to fix leaky pipes or investigate mysterious wet patches yourself as one wrong move could literally bring the ceiling down. Always call a qualified plumber in to help."

Water damage is covered as standard in both buildings and contents insurance, but standard household insurance does not cover the cost of repairing the faulty apparatus or pipe or water tank that leaked in the first place. Be aware that some household policies do not cover you for leaks if you leave your home unoccupied for more than 30 or 60 days in a row.

Sofia is an author of several articles pertaining to No Win No Fee, Compensation Claims, Personal Injury Claims and other legal articles.