Homeowners risk damage to their homes this Winter

Homeowners in Northern Ireland topped the poll for being the best prepared to protect its houses, with 75% of respondents planning ahead for the inclement weather.

Those who live in Central England have been exposed as being the least prepared, with just 45% of respondents planning to even check their homes for vulnerabilities.

The Scots faired slightly better, with 54%, just edging out the Welsh, half of who are planning ahead.

This is despite a huge number of weather related insurance claims made each winter, with Paymentshield receiving 2,357 claims during the period between December 2011 and January 2012.

Tim Johnson, CEO of Paymentshield, said: “Taking steps to ensure your home is ‘winter ready’ need not be a mammoth task. However, now is the time to start thinking about jobs such as lagging pipes, roof repairs and clearing guttering before the bad weather really sets in.

“Homeowners should also be checking their home insurance policies to ensure they’re adequately protected and understand their cover levels. The last thing people need in the run up to the festive period is avoidable damage to their home.”