8 November 2010

Householders Urged To Prepare For Storm Season

• December and January 'stormiest' months
• M&S Premier Home Insurance includes cover for storm damage to fences, gates and garden furniture

As we approach the stormiest months of the year, M&S Money is urging householders to make sure they have sufficient home insurance cover to provide financial assistance in the event of storm damage.

According to the Met Office, the wettest month in the UK is December with an average of 124.88 mm of rainfall. December is also the month with the lowest mean sea level pressure, which can be used as an indicator of "storminess’. The windiest month is January with an average wind speed of 11.8 knots.

Storms can cause severe damage to homes and the average cost of a household insurance claim for storm damage is £660*.

A recent report for the Association of British Insurers (ABI)** warned that increased global temperatures are likely to increase the cost of windstorm damage.

The report warned that Wales and the south-west region of the UK could be the most badly affected. In the south-west, average wind damage insured losses could rise by 24%.

M&S Premier Home Buildings and Contents Insurance provides the following in the event of storm damage:

• Unlimited cover for structural damage
• Unlimited cover for damage to household contents (Limits apply to money and liability. Items, sets or collections over £3,999 must be specified)
• Unlimited cover for storm and flood damage to fences and gates
• Reasonable cover for alternative accommodation if property left uninhabitable

Andrew Ferguson, M&S Head of General Insurance, said: "We saw a large increase in storm-related home insurance claims during January this year as bad weather conditions swept across the UK. Claims included structural damage resulting from fallen trees and damage to fences and gates caused by strong winds."

"Householders can take simple steps to help reduce the risk of damage if a storm is forecast. These include securing garden furniture, checking that roof tiles and guttering are well maintained, and ensuring that windows and doors are locked."

"M&S Home Insurance provides unlimited cover so customers are never underinsured. Our Premier policy is also one of the few policies on the market to cover storm damage to fences and gates."

Marks & Spencer Home Insurance is available by telephone on 0800 068 2742 and online at www.marksandspencer.com/homeinsurance

ENDS

Notes to Editors

* According to an analysis of M&S Home Insurance claims.

** Association of British Insurers (ABI) News Release

For further information please call the M&S Money press office:

Simon Coughlin on 020 7992 1574
simon.coughlin@mandsmoney.com

M&S Money (the trading name of Marks & Spencer Financial Services) was founded in 1985 as the financial services division of Marks and Spencer Group plc, making 2010 the company's 25th anniversary.

The company is a top-ten credit card provider and the second-largest travel money retailer in the UK.  M&S Money also offers a range of insurance cover, including home insurance and car insurance, as well as loans, savings and investment products.

In November 2004, Marks & Spencer sold M&S Money to HSBC. HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of the HSBC Group, is headquartered in London. The Group serves customers worldwide from around 8,000 offices in 88 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of US$2,364 billion at 31 December 2009, HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations. HSBC is marketed worldwide as "the world’s local bank’.

M&S Money has an executive committee comprising an equal number of representatives from HSBC and Marks & Spencer.

M&S Home Insurance policies are provided by AXA Insurance UK plc. Terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations apply. Calls may be monitored and recorded.