Smokers start £11bn fires

Smoking Britons are responsible for £11 billion of damage to UK homes a year, according to research.

A study by Abbey revealed that 425,000 domestic fires are caused by smoking annually, with each fire causing on average of £25,500.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) suggests the number of smoking-related fires is substantially lower, but does recognise that a smoker’s home is 35 per cent more likely to have a fire than a non-smoker’s house.

Since smoking houses are more likely to make more claims on their home insurance, smokers pay higher home insurance premiums.

And with the smoking ban in enclosed public spaces set to come into force, there is an increased likelihood that Brits will smoke in their homes.

Meanwhile, home insurance companies may refuse to include flood cover in their policies unless the government invests more in flood defences, according to an environmental risk management consultancy.

Ambiental managing director said that currently home insurance companies offer cover to properties with a one-in-75-year or less frequent risk of flood, but without more commitment to flood defences, flood cover may no longer come as standard.