HomeServe : Labs Launches Leakbot

Posted 16 June 2016 8:00 AM by John Greaves

• UK homeowners who tried to sell their property after experiencing water damage report that it impacted the value by £5,831 - rising to a staggering £15,510 for those in the capital
• Dripping taps and leaky toilets are the biggest sources of water leaks at home
• Newcastle is the 'leakiest' city where 51% of people currently have a leak at home, followed by Southampton (45%) and London (43%)
• LeakBot launches today - a smart, connected device which has been designed to help protect consumers from the impact of water damage at home, by alerting people of leaks before they become big problems, all from one device which anyone can install at home

LONDON, 16 JUNE 2016 - 18millionpeople could currently be living with leaks at home, reveals smart home technology developer HomeServe Labs. The study of UK adults reveals that 19.1% currently have the annoyance of a dripping tap at home, and 4.32 million (8.5%) are stuck with leaky toilets.

According to HomeServe Labs, part of Homeserve, one of the UK's leading home assistance providers, over three quarters of people (76.9%) have experienced a leak at home before. 37% currently report having a leak at home, which rises to 51% in Newcastle, followed by Southampton (45%) and London (43%). Those without home insurance have to pay £209.42 on average to fix leaks at home, and 6% paid over £500. But the cost to homes can be much more, as homeowners who have tried to sell a property after a leak have reported that it impacted the value by £5,831 (2.79%). This rises to £15,510(3.3%) for those in the capital where the average home fetches £470,000.

Over a quarter (1 in 4) were not aware of the leak before it became a problem, and 10.2% were aware but 'didn't realise the impact it would have'. To help consumers detect water leaks in their homes so they can hopefully catch them before they become big problems, smart home technology developer HomeServe Labs has created LeakBot. LeakBot is a small, connected device which uses its intelligent technology to detect water leaks anywhere on the mains water supply - from dripping taps, to hidden leaks on pipes, to overflowing baths. Key features of the LeakBot include:

• Quick and easy set up: LeakBot monitors your home 24-7 from just one small device which clips onto the mains water supply - it doesn't require professional installation or multiple sensors around the house
• Connected: LeakBot connects to your smartphone and alerts you if there is a leak. It runs off the SIGFOX Internet of Things network meaning that it doesn't need to be connected to WiFi or mobile data, and its battery life lasts up to five years
• On-demand support: If LeakBot does detect a leak in your home, you will be able to find out more about the severity of the leak from the LeakBot app alongside support on how to handle the problem. As LeakBot was developed from HomeServe Labs, a company which was born out of home assistance provider HomeServe, you will have access to a network of qualified engineers who can be called out to fix the problem if required

Craig Foster, Managing Director of HomeServe Labs, comments: 'Water damage claims cost the UK £629 million in 2014, and water leaks rank second for home insurance claims. What often starts off as a small issue, like a leaking tap or pipe, can quickly turn into a big problem, causing damp around the home or even flooding and damage to personal possessions. That's why we decided to develop the LeakBot - to help give people peace of mind through a device which runs silently in the background, monitoring the pipes in your home to ensure that everything flows as it should. That way, if a problem arises you'll be able to nip it in the bud and prevent it from getting any worse.'

Of people who have experienced leaks in their home before, 13.2% say that the leak originated from the toilet, 12.2% from a tap, 11.8% from a shower and 11.4% from the bathtub.

The research, which polled 2,000 people across the UK, also revealed that 18-24 year olds are most at risk of water leaks, as 46% report a leak at home, and a quarter (24.5%) have a dripping tap. 24-34 year olds also need to watch their sewage systems as 12.2% report having a leaky toilet.

If people are faced with a water leak, many don't know how to handle it and stop the problem from becoming much worse. While 2.2% currently have a burst pipe at home, almost a quarter (24%) either don't know what a stopcock is, or where it can be located, to quickly switch off the main water supply to their home. 40.8% of 18-24 year olds don't know what a stopcock is, and even though 9 in 10 (89.2%) of 25-34 year olds know what a stopcock is, 29.7% have no idea where it is located!

To find out more about the launch of LeakBot and how its intelligent technology has been designed to detect water leaks in the home, please visit www.leakbot.io. LeakBot is available for £149 and will be shipped this summer.

Fig 1: Water leaks in UK homes (Source: OnePoll data commissioned by HomeServe Labs)

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Press contacts:

Kourtney Shaw / Tahlie Cooper
homeserve@diffusionpr.com

0207 291 0230

Notes to editors:

The nationwide poll of 2,000 UK adults was conducted by OnePoll. Fieldwork took place from 08.06.16 to 10.06.16. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all adults (aged 18+). OnePoll are members of ESOMAR and employ members of the MRS.

18788756 = 18.7 million (37% of people say that they currently have a leak at home; UK population of people currently aged over 18 is estimated at 50,780,423)

4316336 = 4.31 million (8.5% of people say that they currently have a leaky toilet at home; UK population of people currently aged over 18 is estimated at 50,780,423)

£5,831 = UK adults that have tried to sell a property after experiencing water damage said that it impacted the value of the property by an average of 2.79%. The average value of a home in the UK is currently valued at £209,000.

£15,510 = People based in London who have tried to sell a property after experiencing water damage said that it impacted the value of the property by an average of 3.3%. The average value of a home in London is currently valued at £470,000.

About HomeServe Labs

HomeServe Labs is a smart home technology developer that designs products and services which make consumers' lives easier. HomeServe Labs was born out of HomeServe, one of the UK's leading home assistance provider, which has been delivering maintenance and repair services to over two million Customers across the UK for over 20 years.

HomeServe Labs combines HomeServe's experience with its entrepreneurial and highly creative team to build original solutions for the connected home. The first product to come to market created by HomeServe Labs is LeakBot which uses intelligent technology to detect water leaks in the home from just one smart device, without the need for professional installation. LeakBot alerts consumers of small leaks before they become big problems, with the aim of helping to protect homes from the impact of water damage.

HomeServe Labs is an exciting new British business founded in 2013 with offices in both London and Walsall.

About HomeServe

We are one of the UK's leading home assistance providers. For more than 20 years we have made our Customers' lives easier by delivering maintenance and repair services, including plumbing, drainage, electrics, heating and much more, though our own nationwide network of engineers and sub-contractors.

Over two million people in the UK have already placed their trust in us and turn to us when it comes to fixing, maintaining and looking after their home.

Follow HomeServe on Facebook and Twitter: @HomeServeUK

Read HomeServe's online lifestyle magazine: ketchup.homeserve.com

HomeServe Membership Contact:

For media enquiries contact Stella Pitt, HomeServe's External Communications Manager, on 01922 651508. Alternatively email press@homeserve.com

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