Garden 'furniture' a flood risk

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Some Britons could see home insurance cost skyrocket due to improvements on their gardens increasing the risk of flooding, an insurer has warned.

Britons spend on average more than £200 a year on their gardens, with homeowners having forked out about £633 carrying out work in the past three years, according to Direct Line.

Garden sheds have proved the most popular addition, with 61% of people opting to install one, while 58% of people have added a patio and 51% outdoor seating.

Nearly a third of people have had a summer house built, 26% have added a water feature and 17% have taken the more drastic action of concreting over their front garden to create a drive.

But the insurer warned that some of these improvements could be increasing the flood risk faced by properties.

In a report on last summer's floods, Sir Michael Pitt said laying impermeable surfaces, such as paved driveways and patios, could increase the amount of surface water run-off after rain, leading to flooding.

The Government is planning to introduce legislation later this year requiring homeowners to get planning permission if they want to lay impermeable surfaces.

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