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Does your insurance policy protect against rats causing fires?
Does your insurance policy protect against rats causing fires?
During the colder months rats and mice will venture indoors seeking food and shelter. Unfortunately this means that residents are even more at risk of rat infestations.
Northolt,
Middlesex,
United Kingdom
(prbd.net)
31/10/2012
During the colder months rats and mice will venture indoors seeking food and shelter. Unfortunately this means that residents are even more at risk of rat infestations.
However, rats don't only spread disease, they can also cause severe damage to homes by chewing pipes and cables, putting homes at risk of flood and fire - even gas explosions.
But does your household insurance cover the damage caused by rats? It's important you find out as home insurance policies vary from provider to provider and you may find out that you are not covered when it's too late to change your policy.
Many household policies exclude damage caused by rodents, and often exclude pet damage also. However the damage caused by these pets can be very costly and difficult to fix if you don't have the appropriate insurance to cover any repairs to damage caused.
Homeowners also experience birds and squirrels falling down chimney breasts which can also be very difficult and costly to fix.
Insurer Aviva will pay out for damage caused by wild animals but the policy holder must have full accidental cover as part of their buildings and contents insurance.
Problems with rodents causing damage have been made worse by several councils deciding to cut down on available pest control. However, you should still contact the council if you have a rodent infestation. If they won't help you will need to call in the professionals.
AkeelJaffar runs HLA Pest Control in London. HLA Pest Control is London's leading Pest Control Specialist, and is a member of the British Pest Control Association and winner of the National Pest Technician Association Awards. He says:
"With the colder weather we tend to see a marked increase in calls from people with rodent problems, especially rats and mice. It's important that people call us as soon as a problem is evident as they can cause damage to electrical items, gas pipes, water pipes and structural damage to homes. They also spread disease and as they breed at a fast rate, the problem can quickly get out of hand. Recently a lady died in a house following a gas explosion in a flat in London as rats had chewed through pipes so it's essential to tackle the problem head on."
Notes to Editors
HLA is London's leading rodent control specialist, a member of the British Pest Control Association and winner of the National Pest Technician Association Awards. To find out about how to get rid of rats in commercial or residential establishments click here. To find out more about how we will remove your pests for good with London's most competitive prices and a one-hour response time click here
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