Peace of mind?

Home may be where the heart is, but isn't always a place where we all feel safe and secure. With nearly half (43%) of Brits admitting they sometimes don't feel safe at home, the top worries include noisy streets (29%), unexpected visitors to the door (27%) and being alone at night (18%) according to a new report.

The findings are taken from the first Halifax Peace of Mind Index, launched by Halifax Home Insurance, which delves into the minds of Brits and gets to the core of what makes people feel safe in their homes. Is it having a dog, living in the city, living with others, having the security of a burglar alarm, or peace of mind that they have adequate insurance should the unthinkable happen?

Key findings from the Halifax Peace of Mind Index include:

In general, women have a lower Peace of Mind than men

There is higher Peace of Mind in more rural, less populated regions

Surprisingly, women living alone have a higher Peace of Mind score than those living with parents, in shared accommodation or as a single parent

There is greater Peace of Mind amongst homeowners than those renting or in housing association accommodation

Brits' top property fears are burglary, theft of belongings outside of the home and suffering a fire

Those in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have a higher Peace of Mind score than anywhere in England

All men and women under 35 scored below the national Peace of Mind average, suggesting younger people feel less safe

The bigger the city and denser the population, the more perceived elements of crime and danger there are.

The Index also highlights the aspects that help make Brits feel safe in their homes. The majority of respondents (74%) feel reassured knowing all doors and windows have security locks on, over two thirds (67%) feel safer having a partner or family member in the home and over half (51%) feel secure knowing there is a landline telephone in the property.

Martyn Foulds, Senior Claims Manager at Halifax Home Insurance comments: "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."