Whether you own a home, rent out a property, or run a business, fire remains one of the biggest risks to your finances and your peace of mind.
We are seeing more claims linked to new fire hazards — particularly from solar panels, lithium-ion batteries, and other modern technology. At the same time, many people are discovering they’re underinsured, meaning their insurance wouldn’t fully cover the cost of repair or replacement if the worst happened.
You’ll find these batteries in everything from e-bikes and scooters to laptops, power tools, and home energy systems. They’re compact and efficient, but when damaged or charged incorrectly, they can overheat and catch fire.
Fire services across the UK report a growing number of battery-related incidents — especially where devices are charged overnight or stored in enclosed spaces like hallways or lofts.
Solar energy is fantastic for sustainability, but new research shows that fires linked to solar panels are on the rise, with UK fire services attending one roughly every two days in 2024.
The issue often isn’t the panels themselves — it’s poor installation, faulty connectors, inverter faults, or inadequate maintenance.
If you’ve installed solar panels or a home battery system, it’s worth checking who installed them (look for MCS accreditation) and ensuring they’re regularly inspected and kept free from debris.
Even traditional fire risks — faulty wiring, overloaded sockets, and old appliances — remain common causes of claims. Combined with everyone owning more new electrical items, the risk picture is changing fast.
Underinsurance happens when your property or contents are insured for less than what it would actually cost to replace or rebuild them.
It’s easy to fall into this trap. Many people base their cover on:
But with building costs rising sharply (up over 40% since 2020), even those who reviewed their cover a few years ago may now be underinsured without realising it.
Most policies include something called an “average clause.”
That means if your property is insured for less than it should be, your claim payout could be reduced in proportion.
Here’s what we recommend for every policyholder, whether personal or business:
Check your sums insured – Make sure the figure reflects what it would cost to rebuild your property from scratch today — including demolition, materials, labour, architects’ fees, VAT, and inflation.
Consider a professional Reinstatement Cost Assessment (RCA) – These detailed surveys are the most reliable way to set accurate rebuild values. They’re worth doing every 3–5 years.
Review your contents cover – Most people underestimate the total value of their belongings — furniture, tech, jewellery, tools, and clothing add up fast. Take a fresh look and adjust your sums insured if needed.
Tell your broker about any changes – Added an extension, garden office, solar panels, or new equipment? Let us know before you start the work, or as soon as you’ve made the purchase – these can all affect rebuild costs and risk.
Check your fire-safety measures:
Review your policy annually – A quick check-in each year can prevent major problems later on.
If you’re unsure whether your home, contents, or property insurance is still right for you, we’d be happy to help. As your broker, we’re here to:
Contact us today
