Storm Brendan was an unwelcome addition to January 2020, followed by Storm Dennis in February causing chaos right across the UK. Gusts of more than 80mph, flooding and wintry showers damaged buildings, roads and railways. Although storms aren’t unusual in the winter, records show that in recent years, they’re becoming more severe so it’s important to be prepared.
Some simple steps can help minimise the risk of your home being damaged by stormy weather and, if the worst happens, make sure you’re covered both in terms of insurance and support for potential repairs.
Here we outline how:
Minimising storm damage
Bad storms can be devastating for homeowners and although it’s impossible prepare for every eventuality, there are measures that can significantly reduce your risks.
Maintenance is key so keep an eye on anything outside your home that may be susceptible to moving or falling in heavy winds, such as broken roof tiles, fences or gates. Make sure that any trees close to your property are pruned and that potentially hazardous branches are removed if you are permitted to do so. To avoid water damage to your property in heavy rain, also ensure gutters are kept clear from debris.
If you know a storm is approaching, take additional steps to protect your home. Outdoor items such as garden furniture and toys should either be secured or stored in a garage. Cars should also be parked in a garage if possible or well away from any trees or structures that could fall in a storm.
Insurance cover
Your buildings insurance policy should cover any financial loss caused by storm damage but always check the small print. Some policies exclude certain items so may not pay out for damage to structures such as fences, which are highly susceptible to wind damage, particularly if they’re old or have been poorly installed.
As always when making a claim, there are potential stumbling blocks to be aware of. For your insurer to pay out, you must be able to show that you have maintained your home to a sufficient standard. For example, if your roof tiles blew off in a high wind, your insurer may send a surveyor to check whether the damage is consistent with what they would expect from a recent storm. If they decide the cause looks more like general wear or tear, then your claim won’t be accepted as insurance doesn’t cover issues related to general maintenance.
Disputes can also arise if an insurer feels the weather conditions did not constitute a storm. Before deciding to pay out, some insurers use a system called the Beaufort scale to categorise wind speed and may only progress a claim if the wind reached above a certain point. This should be made clear in your policy.
The Financial Ombudsman Service, which deals with complaints between financial businesses and their customers, says that a ‘storm generally involves violent winds, usually accompanied by rain, hail or snow.’ It also highlights that in some cases, there may be a storm without high winds and that any extreme form of bad weather has the potential to cause property damage.
When dealing with insurance disputes, the Ombudsman would take into account the Beaufort Scale measurements but also consider other evidence to decide whether there was a storm around the time damage occurred.
Repairing a storm damaged home
If the worst happens, act quickly to ensure your insurance claim is handled efficiently and any repairs are carried out as soon as possible. Alert your insurance company within 48 hours, take photos of the damage and keep any damaged possessions as evidence.
To help speed up the claims process, consider appointing a property insurance repairs specialist from the outset. At Sarrani, we can deal with your insurance company on your behalf and will work in partnership with a skilled loss assessor to ensure your claim has the best chance of being correctly accepted and you receive a fair settlement.
The repairs process is made simple by our experienced surveyors and project managers who will provide a comprehensive specification of repair works for you or your insurance company to approve, source the necessary trades required for your project and oversee the work from start to finish.
As an insurance repair specialist, we only use contractors from our approved panel with the required skills and experience to provide full storm damage restoration services. We can also bring in any contractors needed for emergency storm damage works such as weatherproofing, tree removal, structural supporting and boarding up as well as provide temporary power and heating if necessary.
For further information on repairing a storm damaged home and insurance claims, please contact us on 020 3006 3126 or email our experts at info@sarrani.com.