Home insurance and storm damage
Your home insurance policy is likely to include cover for damage caused by storms and bad weather as standard, but not everything on your property may be protected.
Key takeaways
You should be able to claim on your home insurance policy in the event of a storm or bad weather damaging your home
However, you’ll need to show you’ve maintained your home and kept it in good shape otherwise your claim may not be valid
Make sure you document any evidence of damage, keep receipts for urgent repairs and contact your insurer immediately as soon as you see any issues
Does home insurance cover storm damage?
Yes, both your buildings and contents home insurance policies should include cover for sudden or unexpected bad weather and storms.
This means you’ll be able to claim for damage caused to your home that resulted from the storm - so long as you’ve kept your home in good shape with regular maintenance.
Data from the Association of British Insurers revealed that UK insurers paid out a record £585 million for weather-related damage to homes.
How do insurers define storm or weather damage?
While insurers will vary on specifics, most will generally categorise the following incidents as weather-related damage:
Damage caused by wind or hail
Damage caused by falling trees or lightning
Water and flooding from excessive rainfall or melting/thawed snow
Snow and ice causing roof damage
Power failures resulting from the storm, and losses associated with this such as spoiled food
What is storm and weather damage home insurance?
Storm and weather damage is often included as part of home insurance, covering you for damage to your home’s structure and any possessions inside that were affected.
What does storm and weather damage insurance cover?
It’s likely to vary by policy and provider, but most storm and weather damage insurance policies include cover for damage caused to the structure of your home and any belongings you have inside.
You might also be able to claim for alternative accommodation if your home is rendered uninhabitable after the storm.
What isn’t covered by storm and weather damage insurance?
Home insurance providers sometimes exclude cover for the following, so check your policy documents to be sure:
Fences, walls and gates
Building works, like incomplete extensions
Garden furniture and belongings
Fallen TV aerials or satellites
How do I prove a storm damage claim?
Storm damage claims can be difficult, as insurers often push back and will ask you to prove that the damage was caused by a storm. They will assess things like local weather data, but insurers will also have their own definitions of what is categorised as a storm.
The Met Office uses the Beaufort Scale to look at damage that can occur at different wind speeds, and it states that light structural damage can occur at wind speeds of 47mph. However, insurers may use their own standards.
According to the latest data from the Association of British Insurers, insurers paid out a record £585 million for weather-related damage to people’s homes and possessions in 2024.
How do I make a storm damage claim?
To make a claim, try to gather evidence of the storm or bad weather and the damage it’s causing, and contact your insurance provider as soon as you notice it occurring.
If you have home emergency cover you might have access to a 24-hour helpline - be sure to keep your policy details to hand if you can.
Avoid cleaning up the mess until you’ve taken photos and videos to support your claim - your provider may send someone out to assess the damage too, especially if it’s extensive.
Protecting your home from bad weather and storm damage
Storms and bad weather can be hard to predict, and sometimes the damage is difficult to prevent - but there are some steps you can take to try and mitigate potential damage:
Insulate your walls, loft and water pipes to protect against cold weather
Repair things like leaky taps, loose roof tiles and broken fences or walls
Run your central heating
Clear any guttering or drainage systems of debris or snow and ice
Compare home insurance quotes
Finding affordable home insurance that offers storm and bad weather protection is easy when you compare quotes with MoneySuperMarket. Just tell us about yourself, your property and the cover you need, and we’ll search the market for deals that meet your needs.
Once you find the deal you want, just click through to the provider’s website to finalise your purchase.
