Is storm damage covered by home insurance?
Damage caused by storms is usually covered by mosthome insurance policies - provided that the insurance company is happy with the way in which you’ve maintained your home.
You will often need to provide evidence of the state of your home before any damage took place. If you have broken tiles on your roof as a result of storm damage, you’ll need to prove to your insurer that they hadn’t already been damaged due to general wear and tear before the storm hit.
There can also be disputes over what is considered to be a ‘storm’. Many insurers use the Beaufort scale to determine whether they should pay out for a claim. The scale places wind speeds on a scale of 0 to 12, and most insurers will have a cut-off point below which they will not consider the damage to your building to have been caused by a ‘storm’ per se.
What can be claimed for as a result of a storm?
The first thing you want to do is to check the small print in the terms and conditions of yourhome insurance policy so that you can get yourself clued up on what your policy includes (and excludes) when it comes to storm damage.
Some insurers will pay out for certain damage (such as damage to walls, gates, fences,sheds, outbuildings, etc.) whilst other companies won’t.
Garden furniture tends to be excluded from cover unless it is specified in your policy, so it’s always a good idea to put such items into storage if bad weather is on its way.Garden cover is usually available as a policy extra (for which you’ll have to pay more for), but it can be worth it if you have particularly expensive items in your garden such as ornaments or a barbecue.
If the contents of your property are damaged as a result of a storm, you can usually make a claim under yourcontents insurance policy.
The vast majority of claims due to weather are made because of flooding. Flooding has been a big problem for certain parts of the country in recent times, with many homeowners reporting that it has been difficult for them to make claims.
As a result, the government has partnered with the Association of British Insurers to put together a scheme called Flood Re to help those who need assistance due to flooding.
If your home becomes uninhabitable as a result of storm damage, your insurance company should cover the cost ofalternative accommodation until your home is repaired.
How to protect your property from storms and other bad weather
Proper maintenance of your home and taking the necessary precautions in advance can significantly reduce the risk (and headache) of damage to your home due to bad weather. Some things you may want to consider doing include:
How do I make a claim?
You will need to contact your insurance company immediately as soon as you are aware of any damage to your property. Your insurer will be able to talk you through the process, but there are some steps you can take to make things go quicker and smoother:
As with any insurance claim you’ll be required topay the excess that was specified on your policy when you first took out the cover. You may also lose any no claims bonus that you have, making subsequent insurance policies becoming more expensive when it comes time to renew.