British homes hold unused gadgets and electrical appliances worth £37bn, at an average of £1,414 per household, according to data from
Aviva.
The study involved 2,000 British consumers and revealed that kitchen gadgets, old mobile phones, personal grooming kits and garden tools are some of the most common items gathering dust in UK homes. A little more than one in four (27%) of those surveyed said that they sold or re-gifted unwanted items that they received as presents.
Knowing the value of gadgets in the home is vital to having adequate home contents insurance. It’s important that homeowners declare these valuables, even if not in use, so insurers can correctly assess the value of the home and its contents. Brokers are advised to remind their clients to include the value of any important items that are in storage, such as unused gadgets, appliances, and jewellery.
Stephen Pond, managing director of prevention & services for Aviva, said, “Each time we get a new piece of ‘tech’, the value of our possessions increases, so it’s important we have adequate home contents insurance in place, both in and away from the home.
“However, it’s important that when we increase the number of expensive items in our home we reassess our insurance policy to ensure we are adequately covered.”
