- Golf clubs and mountain bikes left unsecured in gardens and car boots -
London, UK, (27 August, 2010) – The summer of sport may have been a washout, with Britain taking no honours at Wimbledon or the World Cup, but thieves may still net themselves a sporting windfall thanks to trusting homeowners.
New research from specialist home insurer Hiscox* reveals that a mountain of expensive sporting equipment with an average value to homeowners of £770 – including golf clubs and watersports gear – is potentially being left unsecured and uninsured in garages and gardens.
The poll of AB1 professionals found over half (53%) admitting that, because they are using some of their kit more frequently during the warmer months, they are storing it in their gardens and car boots. At the same time, over a quarter (26%) admit they don’t always secure their garages and outbuildings effectively.
One in five haven’t given their equipment a dust-off in over a year (19%) or use it only on a seasonal basis (21%). So for many it’s out of sight out of mind with over a third (37%) having no idea whether their expensive kit is insured and 15% openly stating their equipment is not covered.
Mountain and off-road bikes (47%) are the most popular items in our sports ‘cupboards’, followed by tennis racquets (46%), golf clubs (32%), hiking equipment (32%), weights (31%) and fishing rods (21%). Almost a third (30%) have a pricey range of watersports kit, including wetsuits, surfboards, water-skis and scuba diving equipment. One fifth (20%) of homeowners own more than £1,000 worth of sporting goods with 6% owning over £2,000 worth of kit.
Austyn Tusler, home insurance expert at Hiscox, comments: “The value of sports equipment can really add up as people pursue outdoor activities and invest in sophisticated and expensive kit. It’s easy for homeowners to focus on new equipment and items they use more regularly, overlooking what might be stored at the back of the shed and seasonal items, such as fishing rods, skis and watersports equipment.
“Furthermore, the research highlights that opportunistic thieves could find they have more than a sporting chance to make off with a treasure trove of expensive sports kit left unsecured. It’s important that homeowners work out how much it might cost to replace their kit to make sure they are fully covered under their contents policy – both inside and outside the home.”
Hiscox covers sports equipment both inside and outside the home under the contents section of the policy – visit www.hiscox.co.uk for further information.
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Notes to Editors
* Research conducted by independent market researchers Redshift on behalf of Hiscox among 1,000 AB1 adults in the UK between 25th June 2010 and 30th June 2010.
Hiscox 606 home insurance cover includes:
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Cover for sports equipment under the contents section of the policy both inside and outside the home up to the sums insured |
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Cover for sports equipment whilst it is in use** |
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Cover for rowing boats, dinghies and sailboards up to a maximum of £5,000** |
**rowing boats, dinghies and sailboards are not covered whilst being raced
Hiscox 505 home and contents insurance cover includes:
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Up to £1,000 for loss or damage of any one bicycle which has been locked to a fixed structure or kept in a locked building when outside the home or garden (with higher limits available on request). |
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Up to £2,500 per incident for saddlery and tack which is away from the home |
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Cover for quad bikes and golf buggies up to a maximum of £5,000 |
The policy does not cover sports equipment whilst it is being used.
About Hiscox
Hiscox, the international specialist insurer, is headquartered in Bermuda and listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:HSX). There are three main underwriting parts of the Group - Hiscox London Market, Hiscox UK and Europe and Hiscox International. Hiscox London Market underwrites internationally traded business in the London Market - generally large or complex business which needs to be shared with other insurers or needs the international licences of Lloyd's. Hiscox UK and Hiscox Europe offer a range of specialist insurance for professionals and business customers, as well as high net worth individuals. Hiscox International includes operations in Bermuda, Guernsey and USA. Hiscox Insurance Company Limited, Hiscox Underwriting Limited, Hiscox Europe Underwriting Limited and Hiscox Syndicates Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
For further information, visit www.hiscox.com.