Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Sarah Lumley

Hazard-prone Brits take 21 unnecessary risks around the home each week

Seven in ten hazard-prone Brits take at least one unnecessary risk in their home every day – including walking on a wet floor, leaving windows unlocked, and leaving the front door unlocked all day, research has found.

Nearly one in five Brits (18 per cent) have risked electrocution by turning on light switches while still wet after coming out of the shower or bath, while a third (34 per cent) regularly risk slipping and falling on a wet bathroom floor.

The poll of 2,000 adults found that 21 unnecessary risks are taken around the home each week – with almost a quarter (23 per cent) standing on a wobbly chair to catch a spider on the ceiling.

A further 23 per cent have jumped the last few steps on a staircase – and almost a fifth (18 per cent) of Brits who own garden furniture have neglected it to secure it when stormy conditions are expected.

Meanwhile, more than one in ten (12 per cent) have failed to fit smoke alarms, or have not checked their existing ones are working.

And almost a third can think of a time when they have taken a chance, and it has backfired on them.

Almost one in five have failed to secure garden furniture ahead of expected stormy conditions (Ceri Breeze/Getty Images)

Tara Foley, retail CEO at AXA UK, said: “You never know what's around the corner, and it’s worrying to see a high proportion of homeowners regularly making decisions that can be hazardous at home.

“Risks surrounding our homes are so common that people often don’t consider the dangers they present – but that doesn’t mean Brits should let their guard down and allow themselves to be caught out by easily preventable disasters.

“It is important that people take precautions around the home to protect themselves from accidents which could end up being costly and even dangerous.”

The study also found a daredevil four in ten of those polled would consider themselves risk-takers in their day-to-day lives.

And more than half (51 per cent) admitted to taking risks without considering the consequences of their actions first.

Beyond wet floors and unlocked doors, a third extend their risk-taking behaviour into their finances.

Of these financial risk-takers, 53 per cent have dipped into their savings to buy non-essential items, and 35 per cent have put off renewing their home or contents insurance.

The study, conducted by OnePoll.com, also found one in four (24 per cent) are not currently protected by a home or contents insurance policy – despite 38 per cent living in areas susceptible to flooding or other extreme weather events.

And even of those who do maintain a policy, almost half (46 per cent) are unsure what their home or contents insurance covers them against.

More than four in ten (42 per cent) don’t carry out basic checks and maintenance around their home to prepare for adverse weather conditions – with a third believing that taking countermeasures to prevent disaster is too costly.

And more than a tenth don't have smoke alarms fitted, or don't check their existing ones still work (SWNS)

However, AXA UK has found the average costs of repairing flood and storm damage could significantly outweigh the cost of preventing disaster – with flood damage repairs totalling an average of £36,000, and storm damage totting up to more than £1,000 to repair.

Tara Foley added: “The cost-of-living crisis has made it even more crucial for people to protect what matters most to them.

“With extreme weather events looking likely to increase in the UK, it is important that people prepare their homes against floods and storms, and they check their insurance cover.

“Investing in home maintenance, such as checking roof tiles ahead of a storm and flood-proofing your property, can help stop damage from happening as a result of adverse weather conditions.

“Disaster can strike in all forms, especially during winter months, but having the right home insurance cover in place can also provide a vital safety net in case the worst happens.

“We encourage people to carry out regular checks and maintenance on their homes, and that they make sure their home insurance policy covers them for any eventuality.

“Not doing so can leave people vulnerable to having to spend significant amounts of money on repairing home damage or replacing valuables.”

TOP 30 MOST COMMON RISKS AT HOME:

  1. Walked on a wet floor
  2. Put a washing machine on and left the house
  3. Left the mains water on when going on holiday
  4. Left windows unlocked
  5. Left curtains open when going on holiday
  6. Stood on a chair to catch a spider on the ceiling
  7. Jumped down the last few steps on your staircase
  8. Climbed up on top of kitchen units to reach the top shelf
  9. Turned on a light switch with wet hands
  10. Put the dishwasher on and left the house
  11. Left your gutters “just one more month” before clearing them
  12. Dipped into your savings for a luxury item
  13. Didn't secure a heavy piece of furniture, like a wardrobe, to the wall behind it
  14. Not checked roof tiles ahead of a storm
  15. Not keeping a list of emergency contacts
  16. Not tied down garden furniture ahead of a storm
  17. Left something cooking in the oven while popping out
  18. Walked on wet decking
  19. Not getting a winter car service
  20. Left the front door unlocked all day
  21. Not keeping your car in your garage ahead of a storm
  22. Walked around on the beams in the loft
  23. Not having a clear car windscreen
  24. Not checking you have the right tyres for wet/icy road conditions
  25. Not checking car battery and lights
  26. Not ensured all windows, doors, and gates are securely shut ahead of a storm
  27. Left a cable trailing across a walkway
  28. Left the garage door unlocked
  29. Overloaded a plug socket with loads of multi-plug adapters
  30. Not fitted smoke alarms or made sure existing ones still work
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.