As National Maintenance Week kicks off today, thousands of home owners are being encouraged to carry out repairs on their properties in order to make them more energy efficient as winter approaches. Yet recent research has shown that two in three people are not aware that their insurance company may require notification prior to starting any major construction work, which could impose limitations to their cover whilst the work is being completed.

While some smaller jobs will typically be covered as part of the existing cover plan, larger work such as loft conversions or small extensions will most likely require specialist small-level insurance to ensure a home is protected. Those who go ahead with their alteration plans could see their claims rejected in the event of any damage.

James Caldwell, Director of Fair Investment Company, comments: “Britain’s love of DIY can spell disaster for some home owners if they neglect to tell their insurers of the changes they have made. Whether it’s knocking down a wall, adding an extension or simply replacing the windows, you could end up out of pocket if you press ahead with the work before informing your insurer. For the time it takes to make the call, it is certainly worth the effort and could save you a hefty bill if things go wrong.”

According to the Office for National Statistics, we spend nearly 20 minutes every day of our lives carrying out repairs or gardening and with an annual DIY bill of around £16 billion; it just goes to show that Brits are addicted to improving their homes. What’s more, the latest statistics from the English Home Condition Survey found that 27.1 percent of privately-owned homes were in such a bad state of repair, they needed around £7,500 in improvements.