UK storm damage: how to make an insurance claim and who can help
As the UK mops up after the latest round of storms and flooding, insurance is on the minds of many people who have suffered damage to their homes and belongings.
If you are among those who have borne the brunt of the gale-force winds and heavy rainfall, what do you need to be aware of before you make a claim and who can assist you during the claims process?
When insurers assess a claim for storm damage or flooding, they take into account the prevailing wind and rain conditions in your location when the damage occurred. “They will look at what the weather conditions were at the local weather centre nearest the property,” says Malcolm Tarling, a spokesperson for the Association of British Insurers (ABI). Most specify what they will consider a storm, and your policy should outline the criteria.
He warns that if an insurer can demonstrate that the flooding or storm damage has been caused by the fact that your property has been poorly maintained, your claim could be turned down.
“If you know that your roof tiles are loose, if you’ve been worried about that damp patch on your top-floor room for some time and haven’t checked it out, and then if it can be shown that the damage was caused by poor wear and tear, your policy may not offer cover,” Tarling says. “Insurance is not an alternative to a maintenance contract.”
However, he thinks “in most cases” insurers will find it difficult to prove that damage that occurred during Storm Dudley, Storm Eunice and Storm Franklin was caused by poor maintenance or wear and tear, especially if a neighbour’s home has been similarly affected.
“I don’t think any insurer, if you make a claim for wind damage over the last few days, is going to say: ‘Hmm, I’m not sure if there was a storm or gale-force
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