Home insurance cover should be a "social responsibility" according to an industry expert.

Peter Staddon, head of technical services at the British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA), noted that lower income families must prioritise their disposable income, meaning insurance is not seen as essential.

However, he cited the example of last years floods as proof of the importance of home insurance and warned those without that they must be prepared for the consequences.

Mr. Staddon said: "£3.5 billion was paid out but that was in relation to the insured element.

"There is another £1.5 to £2 billion on top of that that was not insured. Where is that going to come from? You have your own responsibility. Your social responsibility is that you should be looking at taking out insurance."

Due to this belief, he said that the industry plans to improve access to the home insurance market for lower income families.

The floods which hit the UK last June and July led to 45,000 homes being damaged.

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