Thursday, March 5, 2009
Category:
Secured Loans
According to new research launched by Halifax Home Insurance, titled the Peace of Mind Index, 43 percent of Brits do not always feel safe in their own homes.
For 29 percent, such feelings come as a result of noisy streets, while 27 percent have revealed their unease at unexpected visitors coming to the door. Being alone at night also ranked highly as a reason for not feeling safe, at 18 percent.
The research-based Index, commissioned by Halifax Home Insurance and British Crime Survey, led to the compilation of seven ‘Peace of Mind’ indicators. Comprised of attitudinal and behavioural measures, these have been combined and converted to a single index with a mean average of 100 in the UK. The highest scoring person is indexed at 165 with the lowest at 21.
Several key findings emerged from the Peace of Mind Index as follows:
- Women tend to have a lower Peace of Mind than men.
- Inhabitants of rural regions have a higher Peace of Mind than those in more populated areas.
- Those living with parents, in shared accommodation or as a single parent have a lower Peace of Mind than women living by themselves.
- Homeowners enjoy greater Peace of Mind than people that rent or are in housing association accommodation.
- Top property concerns in the UK include burglary, theft of belongings outside the home, and fire.
- Those in England have a lower Peace of Mind than those in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
- All under 35 year olds scored below the national Peace of Mind average.
- Perceptions of crime and danger are heightened in larger, highly populated cities.
The Index also sheds light on the factors that make Brits feel secure in their homes. 74 percent feel safe in the knowledge that all doors and windows are fitted with security locks, 67 percent feel safe when accompanied by a loved one, and 51 percent feel safe with a landline in their property.
Senior Claims Manager at Halifax Home Insurance, Martyn Foulds, said: "Society has changed significantly in the past few decades. The aim of the Halifax Peace of Mind Campaign as a whole, and the Peace of Mind Index as the crux of this, is to get to the core of what makes British people feel safe in the home.
"Although it reveals that the majority of Brits still feel safe in the home, some of the findings are surprising. For example, women living alone have a higher Peace of Mind score than those living with parents, in shared accommodation or as a single parent. Ultimately we hope that this report will act as a source of useful information and advice to help those who may face uncertainty or adverse circumstances at home in the future."
...........................................................................................................................
Homeowners that are not satisfied with the current level of security in their home, and are looking to rectify the situation, may wish to consider taking out a
secured loan to fund work required to make their homes more secure. Replacing older windows and doors with stronger, modern UPVC versions would be one way to help increase security. Further, a secured loan could pave the way to attaining that all-important peace of mind by means of providing the funds for a whole host of projects such as building secure boundaries around a property’s parameter in order to deter burglars. Security locks could also be fitted on doors and windows, along with the installation of alarms and cameras if desired. Secured loans are available over a term to suit the borrower from 5 to 25 years.
