Don't let bad weather blow a hole in your home insurance claim

By Alison Steed 16.01.2012

With bad weather recently buffeting the British Isles, many home owners don't realise when they do have a valid claim and when they don't.

Severe weather is always a concern for homeowners as the effects of heavy storms and gales can be devastating to property, but while your home insurance will help you if you do suffer damage, you must do everything you can to protect your home yourself.

Insurance is designed for those ‘extreme events’ that cannot be predicted, such as storms, floods, fires and so on. What the policy will not cover you for is poor house maintenance, so do not assume that a problem with the property caused by a storm will automatically be covered. It may not.

Storms

Loss adjusters sent out to check the damage when you are making a claim will not only look into how much damage has been caused by a storm to your property, they will also consider the state the property was in before it was damaged. So if you have not kept up-to-date with your DIY, then you may find your claim could be refused.

Take, for example, damage to your roof due to high winds. If your property was the only one on your street to have been affected, there is a chance that the insurance company will question why that is, says the Association of British Insurers. Claims managers will consider the state of repair of the rest of your property, and there are also tell-tale signs relating to the state of the roof before the storm that experts will identify.

Of course, there are many other areas that can cause you problems as a result of a storm, even if they do not directly affect your home. Broken gates and fences that have been battered by the weather could reduce the security of your property, and need to be fixed as soon as possible to prevent break-ins. Insurers should cover you if this happens, but it is best to keep your property as secure as you can, no matter what has happened with the weather.

Stuart Curson, head of Direct Line home insurance, said: "Nearly half of all weather related claims are due to roof damage. However, personal safety is paramount and if it is not safe to do so, do not attempt even temporary repairs.

"Damage to gates, garage and shed doors are also common claims. Keep these closed and locked when not in use. This will not only prevent the wind blowing them off the hinges, it is good practice to keep your property secure to avoid an opportunist burglary.

"As the last two winters have demonstrated, bad weather can cause serious damage to property as well as enormous stress to homeowners. In addition to checking that your insurance covers the cost of emergencies, taking a few simple actions such as lagging pipes and keeping your home well maintained will go a long way towards limiting the damage winter weather might cause."

There is a myth that 'Acts of God' are not covered in home insurance policies, but that is not the case. Carole Gallagher, head of property claims at Aviva, said: “There is no such thing as an 'Act of God' exclusion - this is exactly what your insurance covers you for.

"So any damage caused to your property as a direct result of storm force wind and rain is covered, and if you are forced to move out of your home the cost of alternative accommodation is also paid for. We can make separate arrangements for your pets, too."

So, the key is to make sure your home is as water-tight and storm-proof as it can be before the bad weather takes hold.

Top tips to protect your home

Heavy rain or flooding

Clear your drainpipes of leaves to allow heavy rain to flow through them

Move valuable items upstairs, and make sure you have your insurance policy in a safe place

Raise furniture off the floor if it cannot be moved

Cold weather

Lag pipes that could be exposed to freezing in cold weather

Keep your heating on to prevent pipes freezing in the house

Find your stopcock – if you have a leak, you need to turn the water off as soon as you can

Storms

Make sure your roof is in good repair, tiles are secure and battens are not rotten

Keep any trees near the property cut back to avoid branches falling and causing damage

If you suffer damage, take photos for the insurers, and use tarpaulins to cover open roofs