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Homes 'need to be checked for winter'

Households are being urged to make sure their homes are safe in time for any storms that may lash parts of the country in November.

Halifax, which dealt with 18,000 weather-related claims last year, has said that homeowners should give their property a "winter health check" to reduce the risk of storm damage.

It is recommended that homeowners check their roofs for broken tiles and cracks in the chimney, and look for any problems with the pointing.

Vicky Emmott, Halifax Home Insurance spokesperson, said: "Winter is the time when we retreat to the warmth and safety of our homes.

"With home emergencies, prevention is certainly better than the cure and many claims could be avoided if householders spent a small amount of time preparing for the coming bad weather."

It is also suggested that drain pipes and gutters are kept free from debris such as autumn leaves, which can block water flow and cause flooding.

According to Abbey, there were more than 620,000 building insurance claims in 2006 as a result of storm damage.

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© Adfero Ltd

31/10/2007 16:19:48

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