Home Insurance Coverage for Bad Weather

Home insurance coverage for bad weather

According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) it has been the "worst cold snap for 18 years" as winter storms and freezing conditions take their toll on the UK. While many of us may annually dream of a white Christmas, to experience such a prolonged period of cold weather is not good for us – and it’s not good for our homes.

Homeowners are much more likely to make a claim on their home insurance during bad weather due to the increased risk that severe weather conditions can cause. For example, storms can batter homes and leave roofs requiring extensive repair work, while freezing conditions can cause pipes to burst and flood a home.

According to figures from Halifax home insurance in-house claims data gathered from 2003-2007, a typical claim for storm damage can cost around £1,000 while flood damage can cost more than £20,000.

In tough financial times, nobody wants to fork out such an extensive amount of cash if it can be avoided – which is why home insurance can provide vital peace of mind.

How home insurance can help

Home insurance can be a saving grace if bad weather strikes as it could save the claimant thousands of pounds. In fact, during the severe flooding in 2007, it is estimated that home insurance companies paid out in excess of £3billion according to the Association of British Insurers.

Several home insurance policies also offer ‘home emergency cover’. Typically this will give consumers a 24hr hotline to call in case of a home emergency such as a burst pipe or another plumbing or electrical fault. An approved repairer then comes to your home and fixes the problem and all you have to pay is the excess. It can be a very worthwhile cover option to select although you should examine the policy terms and conditions carefully to see what is and isn’t covered.

It’s also important to ensure that your home insurance contents policy is up to date. Make sure it includes any items recently brought into the home.

If you don’t have a home insurance policy currently, or are looking to switch providers, then consult the Environmental Agency’s Flood Maps to see if your home is in an "at risk" area. If it is, you’re likely to be charged a higher premium. From there, shop around for home insurance using a comparison website to find a competitive deal.

An alternative to making a home insurance claim

It’s great to have home insurance in place for the peace of mind it can provide – however, in an ideal world you won’t need to make a claim on your policy. Claiming can be an expensive business as you’ll still have an excess to pay and you may wipe out a no-claims bonus which could vastly increase your monthly payments.

The alternative to making a claim is to protect your property against both flood and storm damage. This won’t guarantee that your home won’t be affected, but it will greatly reduce the risk.

To protect the home against flood damage, place sandbags outside doors, airbricks and windows to reduce the amount of water than can flow into the property. Remember to turn off your water, gas and electricity at the mains and unplug electrical items as soon as possible – ideally they should be moved upstairs.

Try and move as much furniture and irreplaceable items, such as photographs, upstairs too. Large items should be weighed down with sandbags to reduce the chances of them floating around and causing further damage.

If a storm is expected, then ensure you have secured any hazardous objects such as garden furniture, barbecues and bicycles. Make sure that doors to outbuildings and gates are closed and locked and also look at external light fittings to ensure they are secure. If you have time to prepare then clear gutters and drains of leaves and debris, and also cut back low hanging branches.

How to make a home insurance claim

Should your property suffer extensive damage you’ll want to make a home insurance claim so contact your insurer as soon as possible – the insurer will probably suggest a plan of action which you should follow carefully.

Try and take photographs of damaged items and hold on to any ruined property as an inspector might want to look at it.

If all goes well you should be able to make a successful home insurance claim that could make your house a home again.