Britain’s £1.38 billion trick or treat repair bill
• Almost a quarter of UK households have suffered damage as a result of Halloween or Bonfire night
• The repair bill for these ‘mischief week’ shenanigans amounts to £1.38 billion
• £227 is the average cost per household of damage caused by eggs being thrown, firecrackers through letterboxes and stray fireworks amongst other acts of mischief
• One million Britons have been attacked by people using fireworks as weapons
More than six million (23 per cent) UK homes have been damaged as a result of Halloween and Bonfire night celebrations, according to new research from Santander Home Insurance1.
The cost of damage caused during this ‘mischief week’ period averages £227 per household, amounting nationally to a staggering £1.38 billion.
The most common cause of damage, which has affected 2.6 million (10 per cent) British homes, is eggs being thrown. Around 1.6 million (6 per cent) households have also had their garden plants and fences damaged or removed. Property damage due to fireworks and sparklers (3 per cent), hosting a house party (3 per cent) and items posted through letter boxes (2 per cent) has also contributed to the nation’s colossal ‘mischief week’ repair bill.
Most shockingly, 2 per cent of Britons – equivalent to more than a million people – have been attacked by people using fireworks as weapons.
Mark Russell, Santander Insurance, said: “Halloween and Bonfire night are national celebrations that all families should be able to enjoy. However, many of the traditions we associate with these occasions such as lighting fireworks and ‘trick or treating’, have the potential to be quite intimidating and damage homes.
“Mischief week is unfortunately a prime opportunity for criminals targeting unoccupied properties, so it’s advisable to keep entrances to your home secure and leave a light on to ensure your home appears occupied. For peace of mind and to minimise the inconvenience if any damage does occur, we also urge people to keep their property and possessions protected with comprehensive home insurance.”
The North East is the nation’s mischief week damage hotspot, with 32 per cent of homes in the region having suffering damage over this period.
Region
% of homes that have been damaged during mischief week
North East
32%
London
31%
Yorks Humber
26%
Wales
25%
South East
23%
North West
22%
East Midlands
20%
East of England
20%
South West
19%
West Midlands
18%
Scotland
15%
1. Sample size 2,001 UK adults. Results have been extrapolated up based on 26,442,100 million households or 50, 371,000 people in the UK, according to the ONS. Research conducted by Opinium Research, 25th – 28th September 2013.
