Balmy summer nights and the end of exam season could cause a financial headache for British parents as their offspring's celebrations get out of control.
According to new research from Zurich Insurance, UK teens have partied their way through £136 million1 of damage to their parents' homes over the past five years.
Nearly half (45 per cent) of teenagers have thrown parties and, of these, 43 per cent have resulted in domestic damage. And for any parent planning on leaving their teenager home alone this summer, an average repair bill of £132 might cause them to think again.
Carpets are the first fatality of teen gatherings: more than one in three (35 per cent) fall foul of wine and food spills. Sofas, curtains and other soft furnishings come a close second; with 22 per cent looking the worse for wear after the guests have left. A further one in 10 parents have returned home to find their garden damaged. And, shockingly, one in 20 (5 per cent) have even had possessions stolen from the house.
It seems that hanging out with a good crowd makes little difference to the repair bill. Gatecrashers are a problem at nearly one in seven (15 per cent) get-togethers, but even invited guests can cause problems with a fifth of mums and dads complaining that underage guests don't respect the family home. And one in five (19 per cent) parents say when the kids have a shindig, it just gets rowdy and out of hand - resulting in them being out of pocket.
As well as being hit in the wallet, the teen party aftermath also involves spending hours clearing up for one in three (31 per cent) parents. And when they've sorted out the house, many are left appeasing irritation from next door, with one in 10 (12 per cent) neighbours complaining about noise.
However, the research also reveals that many mums and dads haven't exactly hung up their party hats just yet - three in five (60 per cent) parents have held a knees-up within the last five years and, of these, a third (31 per cent) admit the house has suffered as a result. And when they do have a celebration, things are almost as likely to get out of hand for them as for their offspring - for both age groups; nearly one in five (18 per cent) say that rowdy guests are a big problem. The general rule seems to be that parties cost in more ways than one, with the average parents' party repair bill standing at £100.
Martin Hall, Head of Home Underwriting at Zurich Insurance said: "Teenage parties are a fact of life for most parents, and while they always seem to start off small, everyone knows someone who has returned home to a gathering that has got that little bit out of hand. But it's interesting to see that parents aren't shy of a party either! The difference, however, is that although a number of parents' parties resulted in damage, teenage parties cost mums and dads a third more in household repairs.
"With party season just around the corner, we would urge homeowners to check their home insurance policies. Most insurers' buildings cover extends to basic mishaps such as broken windows, but it might also be worth extending the protection for contents to include accidental damage cover for things like stained carpets and damage to furniture, so that you are well prepared for any exuberant guests."
For further information contact:
Maria Wyatt, Zurich, on t:01489 864817 m: 07764 282074
e: maria.wyatt@uk.zurich.com
Notes to Editors
Methodology:
The research was carried out by Tickbox.net in April 2006 and is based on a sample of 1,133 parents with children aged between 14 and 22.
Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich) is an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Founded in 1872, the Group is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It employs approximately 55,000 people serving customers in more than 120 countries.
