Claims rise as landlords cut maintenance budgets

The proportion of claims made for avoidable incidents such as leaks, burst pipes, frost damage and general wear and tear has increased by 5% since 2008 as tight budgets hit property maintenance by landlords.

Business and landlord insurance broker Simply Business took the data from the claims of over 3 500 private landlords and found that water damage is the biggest offender, with the number of claims rising by 20% since 2008. Water damage is also one of the most expensive problems to fix with the average cost of repair at £2 422 per incident.

Incidences of other claims have decreased, including accidental damage (down by 3%), storm damage (down by 17%) and theft (down by 2%), although these are