Protecting your property: fire safety and insurance advice

As we experience an unseasonably warm Spring with temperatures soaring to nearly 30°C in some parts of the UK1, the risk of wildfires becomes a concern. This Spring, the UK has experienced a record-breaking number of wildfires. As of early May, there have been 161 wildfires larger than 30 hectares across the country2. This surpasses the previous annual record set in 2019. Additionally, the devastating fire at a historic thatched cottage in Ringwood, which required over 50 firefighters to control3, highlights the vulnerability of thatched properties to fire. In this article, we will explore how you can mitigate the risk of fire on your property and ensure you have the appropriate insurance coverage in place should the worst happen.

Garden maintenance

Grass fires burn quickly because of how fine it is. The taller and drier the grass, the more intensely it will burn. Shorter grass will have a lower flame height and make the fire easier to control. According to the Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue services, grass under 10cm is a lower risk. Therefore, maintain your garden and if you’re concerned about overgrown grass near your home, trim any hedges or plants to create more space between you and the overgrown grass. For more advice on this, visit: https://www.dsfire.gov.uk/news/safety-concerned-about-wildfire-risk-your-area

Bonfires

You should avoid having bonfires in very dry hot weather. However, if the temperature allows for a bonfire then use a metal incinerator to contain it and locate it well away from anything flammable. This includes trees, long dry grass, fences, sheds, houses, garages and cars. Don’t leave the bonfire unattended and keep a bucket of water or a hose nearby. For advice on what you should or should not burn in a bonfire, visit: https://www.dsfire.gov.uk/safety/home/bonfires

Barbeques and outdoor cooking

If you have a barbeque or fire pit, then make sure it is in a stable place and don’t leave it unattended. When lighting your barbeque, make sure it is a safe distance from the house and keep a bucket of water or extinguisher close by. Also ensure that any fires lit are put out correctly and safely. Remember not to leave empty glass bottles outside as they can reflect sun rays onto a fuel source, causing a fire.

If you have a thatched property, your home insurance policy may have clauses relating to barbecues, firepits, bonfires, chimineas, incinerators or patio heaters. The condition typically states that no fire under your control can be lit within a set distance of your home. If you are in breach of such a condition and your barbecue causes a fire, you may find yourself uninsured. There are additional clauses when it comes to a thatched property – for more information on these read our article: Ways to manage your thatch home insurance premium | Howden Insurance

Inside your home

Sun rays can reflect off glass and cause a fire, these are more prevalent when the sun is strong and low, in late spring and summer. Therefore, keep mirrors or glass ornaments, which can also act as a lens, away from windows and other reflective surfaces.

Other things to look out for include:

• Checking on devices that are charging and making sure they are uncovered. Some chargers can overheat quickly, particularly if left under soft furnishings, which is extra hazardous in the hot weather.
• Overloading plug sockets. With extra fans plugged in at home, overloading your plug sockets and using extension cables can cause a fire.

Lithium batteries

Fires caused by lithium batteries rose by 43% in 2023 compared to the previous year and batteries that power electric vehicles such e-bikes, e-scooters and e-cars were responsible for almost three fires a day across the UK last year4.

The main reasons for lithium batteries catching fire are:

• Manufacturer defect
• Damage
• Rapid charging – using the wrong charger
• Rapid discharge

For advice on how to prevent a lithium fire, please read our article: Lithium batteries and home insurance

Smoke detectors and fire alarms

Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, fires start and not everything is in our control – particularly when it comes to wildfires spreading. It’s therefore important to test and maintain any smoke detectors and/or fire alarms.

Smoke and heat detectors have a life expectancy and need to be replaced before the replace-by date on the detector. Smoke detectors should be certified to British Standard EN 14604:2005 and heat detectors to BS 5446-2:2003

You’ll also need to check the batteries. Wireless smoke detection technology has improved significantly over the last few years. Newer lithium batteries may last up to ten years and are not user-replaceable.

When it comes to fire alarms there are various grades available - Grade A being the uppermost grade and Grade F the lower grade. You can read more about this here: https://fire-risk-assessment-network.com/blog/fire-alarm-categories/

When it comes to your home insurance, insurers may stipulate a minimum grade and category of alarm, up to Grade A LD1 for the largest or most vulnerable homes. If in any doubt you should obtain a Fire Risk Assessment. https://nfcc.org.uk/our-services/building-safety/protection-building-safety/finding-a-fire-risk-assessor/

Please note that properties in Scotland need to conform to the Scottish fire regulations which you can find here: Fire and smoke alarms: changes to the law - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Alternative accommodation

A fire can sadly cause enough damage to prevent you from living in your own home, in which case you may find yourself relying on the alternative accommodation provision within your home insurance policy.

Alternative accommodation cover provides for you and your family if your home can’t be lived in following a claim. A basic policy may give you 20% of the buildings sum insured to put towards alternative accommodation but a good home insurance policy will cover the cost of renting a temporary home for a set number of years. This is important to consider if you live in London or the South East where the cost of renting is generally higher.

High value home insurance policies will also include cover for your pets and even horses, if you have them, and will allow for you to stay in the same area (wherever possible) and near children’s schools - minimising change in an already stressful situation.

Buildings insurance

If your home is significantly damaged by a fire and needs major works or a rebuild, then your buildings sums insured will come into play. The buildings sums insured is the amount it would cost to rebuild your home from scratch. Having the correct buildings sums insured for your home is important for three reasons.

1. There might be a shortfall in the event of a claim because the insurer may apply the average clause.
2. Your claim might be disputed if the insurer deems that you have deliberately or ‘recklessly’ underinsured.
3. There may be a delay in rebuilding your property.

If you haven’t already done so, we recommend that you review your existing buildings sums insured. You can read more about this in our article: Why your home might be underinsured

If you live in a flat, you should review your Fixtures and Fittings cover to ensure it is adequate to cover any improvements you have made to your flat that may not be covered under the buildings policy. You read more about that in our article: Fixtures and fittings: are you covered?

Do I need an insurance broker?

A specialist broker like Howden will look at your property and talk to you about your home and what preventative measures you have taken and what you may have done to make your home more resilient against a fire. This enables us to potentially secure additional discounts from insurers as they trust us to give them an accurate representation of their risk – which in turn gives them the confidence to provide lower rates.

A fire brings with it physical hazards and emotional stress. If you suffer a house fire, you’ll need to look after yourself and those around you. Our in-house Claims Team will help guide you through a loss and get you the best possible settlement, quickly and without fuss. We only deal with policies underwritten by quality insurers, who have good financial stability and want to pay, not avoid, claims.

It’s just one of the many benefits of using a broker. For more benefits, read our article: Why you need a broker for your home insurance.

To speak to us about your home insurance call 020 8256 4908 or email privateclients@howdeninsurance.co.uk

Sources

1. UK weather outlook May 2025
2. Record-breaking wildfires in the UK
3. Devasting thatched cottage fire in Ringwood
4. Fires caused by Lithium Batteries