Industry News from Yes Insurance

Home insurance customers may reduce their chances of making a claim by installing smoke alarms which are wired up to the mains, it has been suggested.

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa), people generally encounter fewer problems with devices powered in this way.

In contrast, it pointed out a number of things could go wrong with systems which rely on batteries.

A spokesperson for the organisation said it could be tempting to take batteries out of alarms to use them in other appliances.

He added: "Batteries can also run out, go flat and people forget to replace them.

"With the mains wired ones, obviously that is not a problem."

Figures cited by Rospa revealed smoke alarms failed to activate in 12 per cent of the fires reported in 2006.

The charity claimed most of these devices were battery-powered.

Rospa was established more than 90 years ago.

Looking for a cheap home insurance quote? Why not try yesinsurance.co.uk