13 August 2004
Most parents could be forgiven for feeling a little apprehensive about their children turning into adolescents and it seems that sometimes this isn't without good reason.
New research by home insurer Zurich reveals that the nation's teenagers are costing British parents £134 million* per year in damage to homes and possessions. Teenage mishaps including smashed windows, damage to cars, stained carpets and furniture seem to be an all too common occurrence, with more than half (51 per cent) of mums and dads reporting that their accident-prone teenagers have accidentally caused a spate of mishaps over the years.
It seems that younger teenagers cause the most damage - nearly half (46 per cent) of the perpetrators of household floods and fires were just 13 years of age.
Teenage exuberance is certainly putting a strain on the purse strings. Almost half (46 per cent) of teenagers have thrown a party and nearly six in ten (58 per cent) of these gatherings have resulted in damage to homes and gardens.
For some adolescents, the temptation not to tell their parents that they are hosting parties gets the better of them - one in ten (9 per cent) was held without parental consent. And when things go wrong, one in five (21 per cent) parents report that their offspring fail to own up, with a further two in three children (67 per cent) blaming the damage on their friends.
Maria Donald, spokesperson for home insurer Zurich, says: "With the summer holidays upon us and exam results just round the corner, many of the nation's teenagers will be gearing up for a celebration. Most parents view teenage parties as a fact of life and rightly encourage their children to enjoy life to the fullest while they're young, but it's important to prepare for the possibility that they can end up putting dents not only in their homes but also in their parents' wallets.
"Accidents do happen, so it's important to ensure adequate protection is in place for parents who 'fall foul' of teenage antics. Most home insurers cover for basic mishaps such as broken windows, but it is worth checking your policy and perhaps extending it to include accidental damage cover for things like stained carpets and damage to furniture."
*This figure was calculated using the Census 2001 data that there are 5,199,600 teenagers in the UK and that 51.4% of these caused damage costing an average of £50 to repair.
-Ends-
For further information contact:
Maria Donald, Zurich, on t:01489 864817
m: 07764 282074
e: maria.donald@uk.zurich.com
Georgie Carter, Band & Brown, on
t: 020 7419 7329
m: 07974 266 105
e: gcarter@bbpr.com
Notes to Editors:
Standard accidental damage cover (within the home policy) & optional Accidental Damage cover
Most home insurance policies include an element of accidental damage cover (i.e. damage caused by events other than those specified such as fire, escape of water, theft, storm etc). For example, accidental breakage of glass in windows and doors, of baths, washbasins, sinks and toilet pans is normally covered under a buildings policy and a contents policy usually includes accidental damage to electrical items such as TV's and Hi Fi's as well as breakage of glass in mirrors or furniture.
Damage such as torn wallpaper, stained carpets or broken furniture or ornaments is not covered as standard but can be included by buying what is usually called 'extended or additional accidental damage' cover.
The scope of home cover varies between insurers so it is important to check what is or is not included under your policy and whether the optional accidental damage cover is required.
Methodology:
The research was carried out by PCP Ltd in May 2004 and is based on interviews with a sample of 500 UK adults who have one or more children, aged between 17 and 21 living at home
Zurich Financial Services is an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network that focuses its activities on its key markets in North America and Europe. Founded in 1872, Zurich is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Zurich has offices in more than 50 countries and employs about 62,000 people.
Spokespeople:
A Zurich spokesperson will be available from 8am - 5pm on Thursday 5th August and Friday 6th August.
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