Property news roundup: One in five people has no home contents insurance

Plus, does London need a 21st century 'Domesday Book', and what do holiday home owners pack?

(Alan Cleaver)

Around a third of 18-34 year olds have no home contents insurance says a new report.

More than 90 per cent of people aged over 55 are covered, according to the survey for esure Home Insurance, although overall around 19 per cent of people in Britain have not taken out a policy.

Regionally, Londoners are least likely to have home contents insurance (32 per cent) compared to those in the East of England (84 per cent), Scotland (83 per cent) and Yorkshire & Humberside (82 per cent) who most likely to be covered.

However, nearly two thirds only had a vague idea of what was covered in their home insurance policy.

Holiday home food

Around 60 per cent of holiday home owners say they take food from the UK when they travel to their second home abroad. The report from insurance specialist Schofields shows the most popular items were:

1. Baked beans- 37 per cent

2. Chocolate- 35 per cent

3. Bacon- 32 per cent

4. Sweets- 24 per cent

5. Condiments- 20 per cent

Around 12 per cent also take sausages and five per cent have taken fresh milk.

New communities needed in London

London needs a 21st century 'Domesday Book’ to help solve the city's housing crisis, says London First’s Housing Task Force, a group of property-related businesses including developers and housing associations.

Its Home Truths report calls for new communities to be established in the south west and north east of London to meet rising demand, recommending Brimsdown in the Upper Lea Valley and Chessington, south of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames as two possibilities.

Authors of the report say that a 21st century 'Domesday Book', set up by the Mayor, could identify publicly owned sites in London that are surplus to the public sector’s needs. They also argue that boroughs shouild be allowed to directly benefit financailly from the construction of new homes.