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Storms

A key component of home buildings insurance is to help homeowners recover from severe weather events such as storms or flood damage. Major windstorms cause substantial damage every year in the UK, and insurers will be on standby to support their customers when particularly bad weather strikes.

To help with insurer assessments, we’ve produced the following information as to what typically constitutes a storm.

What is a storm?

A storm is a period of violent weather usually deemed to consist of:

  • Wind speeds with gusts of at least 55mph* or;
  • Torrential rainfall at a rate of at least 25mm per hour or;
  • Snow to a depth of at least one foot (30cm) in 24 hours;
  • Hail of such intensity that it causes damage to hard surfaces or breaks glass

*Equivalent to Force 10 on the Beaufort Scale which is the classification of a storm on this Scale.

How insurers assess storm damage

As with any claim, insurers will first need to verify the circumstances that lead to the damage.

  • For storm claims, that means confirming the weather conditions in the area. Insurers will need to understand if the wind was strong enough to damage a property that is otherwise well-maintained.
  • Some policies may require specific weather conditions to be met, which will be outlined in policy documents. These criteria could include windspeed or rain intensity levels.

In order to assess conditions at the time of damage, insurers rely on data from independent, specialist weather organisations, such as The Met Office, which will provide them with detailed information including conditions over the preceding days and granular weather measurements.

Insurers will also review local weather records and reports, and may look at whether any nearby properties were also affected.

However, insurers take a pragmatic and flexible approach when dealing with storms claims and will ultimately apply their own discretion to individual decisions. Policyholders should always be sure to check their policy wordings and speak to their insurer if they have any questions.

Does the condition of my property impact whether my insurance will cover storm damage?

  • It is important to remember that insurance is not a maintenance contract and does not cover general upkeep of a property. Insurance policies will usually state that the property must be kept to a good standard, and this could impact whether a claim is accepted depending on the circumstances.
  • To ensure your insurance claim is successful, it’s important that your property is well maintained. Insurers don’t cover wear and tear or loss or damage arising from wear and tear.
  • When buildings are well cared for and maintained, damage can be avoided or reduced significantly. Fixing loose roof tiles and defects in flat roofs, repairing flashings, and regularly clearing gutters of leaves and other debris can help to reduce damage. Most insurance policies don’t cover storm damage to fences, hedges and gates, or contents left in the open.

How to prepare for a storm

You can take a number of actions to prepare for bad weather, such as storms and floods:

  • Make sure you have emergency contact details for your insurer, local authority, and utility companies to hand in a safe waterproof place.
  • Make sure any free-standing items, like ladders in gardens, BBQs, trampolines and patio furniture, which can cause damage in high winds, are secured.
  • If you have a car and it is safe to do so, try and move it away from where flooding is expected.
  • If you are in a flood risk area, try to move valuable or essential items upstairs or to a high place.
  • Keep a mobile phone with you.
  • Check if it is safe to use electricity, gas, and water supplies.

See our storm FAQs for more information.