The simple BBQ mistakes that could cost you £11,000 – and how to avoid them

SUMMER is on its way and households across the UK will be gearing up to light their BBQs.

But some simple mistakes could see you forking out thousands of pounds if you’re not careful and aren’t covered.

The Sun spoke to property claims director at Aviva, Kelly Whittington, who revealed four blunders that anyone can make – and how to avoid them.

She said: “Barbecues and fire pits are popular features in millions of UK gardens, and they can be a brilliant addition to social events.

“But they also come with risks, and if not watched carefully, they can quickly get out of hand with potentially disastrous consequences.”

Here are the four mistakes Kelly highlighted.

Leaving barbecues unattended – £6,000

BBQs often come out for social gatherings and family events where it can be easy to get distracted.

But leaving one unattended even for just a few seconds can see a fire quickly grow out of control.

Research by Aviva found the average cost of claims where unattended BBQs lead to fires costs between £2,000 to £6,000.

So if you aren’t covered by home insurance, it could see you having to fork out thousands of pounds.

Kelly said: “Always have someone to keep watch over any barbecue or fire.”

Storing your BBQ wrong – from £40 to £100s

It might be tempting to leave your BBQ outside, but that might prove tempting to thieves.

Again, if you weren’t covered by insurance, this would mean having to fork out for the cost of the BBQ.

Argos is selling one for £38 currently, though if you’ve invested in a top of the range cooker then it could set you back several hundreds.

Instead, it is worth storing it in a garage or somewhere else safe and secure, like a shed that’s padlocked.

Some policies only cover you if you can prove you locked a garden item away too.

Kelly said: “Thefts tend to increase during summer months and even the bulkiest barbecue can be tempting for thieves.”

If you’ve got a higher-end barbie, be wary that most insurers have an upper contents limits for items stored in outbuildings too, which is often around £2,500.

Kelly added: “Insurance providers may also ask that any individual items stored in outbuildings worth more than a certain limit – for example around £1,000 – are listed separately on the policy.

“Ensure you have good security in place on your sheds and garages to deter opportunist thieves.”

Know the rules – £5,000

There aren’t any rules against lighting a BBQ or bonfire, but you might get caught out if they are deemed to be causing a nuisance.

This might be if they are considered a pollution or health hazard to others, such as your neighbours.

A scenario where this might be the case is if smoke is going across a road or if you are having a BBQ every night.

Fines of this type are enforced by the council.

Kelly said: “It’s worth knowing that neighbours can report you if they think your fires are causing a nuisance – which could lead to a fine of up to £5,000.”

To avoid landing yourself in this situation, Kelly suggested maintaining an open dialogue.

She said: “You might want to tell your neighbour about any BBQ, in case they’ve put their washing out.

“And be mindful about not placing the BBQ near to any fences or trees.

“We have seen claims where people have set fire to trees and fences in their neighbours garden.”

Dispose of waste carefully – £40

It might not be the funnest part of a BBQ, but disposing of any coals or ashes in the right way could save you a few pounds.

If you put them in the bin before they have cooled down, you might end up setting it on fire.

Not only will this mean having to replace the bin, but it could lead to far greater consequences.

Kelly said: “At the very least, this could mean bill of around £40 for a new wheelie bin, but in more serious scenarios, the blaze could spread, causing considerable damage.”