Does your home insurance cover storm damage?

Most insurers will cover storm damage, but there are some cases where they won’t. If you’re insured with Aviva, we cover you for damage caused by a storm but there are certain types of damage we don’t cover, such as wear and tear.

Your policy is also likely to cover you if you need alternative accommodation because your home isn’t fit to live in until the damage is repaired. Please check your policy documents for more information about this.

As well as any damage to buildings, make sure you list any belongings damaged by the storm inside or outside your home.

It’s a good idea to take photos or videos of them, too, so you can send them to your insurer. Don’t throw these belongings away as your insurer may need to see them to move ahead with your claim.

If Mother Nature does her worst and you need to make a claim for storm damage, contact your insurer as soon as it’s safe to do so.

What to do if you’re insured with Aviva

The fastest way to claim for storm damaged if you’re already with Aviva is to log into MyAviva. You’ll be able to log your claim and find out all the important bits, such as your excess and level of cover. We may even be able to give you an instant decision online. There’s no need to call us, we’ll get in touch if we need more details.

For all insurers, a storm must meet a definition before they will accept your claim. A storm is defined as an extreme weather event with:

• persistent high winds with gusts normally over 55 mph (48 knots), and/or 
• heavy rainfall at a rate of at least 25 mm an hour, and/or
• snow to a depth of at least 30 cm in 24 hours, and/or
• hail of such intensity that it causes damage to hard surfaces or breaks glass.

Insurers also take other factors into consideration, such as where your property is sited.

Storm damage can take many forms. Typical damage to a property after a storm can include any or all of the following: 

• Tiles or slates dislodged or missing 
• Entire felt roofs lifted off 
• Ridge or hip tiles missing or dislodged 
• Damage caused by fallen trees 
• Water damage inside your home 

Be sure to check your policy wording as there are some things your insurer won’t cover.

At Aviva, we don’t cover damage to fences, hedges and gates, and, in some cases the storm may only highlight a pre-existing issue with the roof.

We also don’t cover damage which is longstanding or due to maintenance issues or general wear and tear, such as:

• Cement or mortar deterioration on brickwork and chimneys
• Failed render on the building exterior
• Gradual deterioration to any part of the roof or building
• Aged flat roofs

You should make a claim as soon as possible after the storm. Check your insurance policy as your insurer may have a time limit for storm damage claims. At Aviva, we don’t have a time limit, but we do encourage you to claim as soon as you can.

To help you get back to normal as quickly as possible, your insurer may ask you to get a quote from a local tradesperson to repair the damage. 

If you can’t get a repair quote, or if your property isn’t safe and secure, get in touch.

Top tips when you’re looking for help

• Avoid cold callers 
• Look for recommended or established traders 
• Don’t pay anything upfront 
• Check if the builder offers warranties on the work 
• Get at least two quotes for comparison, if possible 
• Be alert to scams. Independent flood or loss assessors may get in touch with you and offer to manage your claim on your behalf, but many charge a fee, which could be taken from your insurance settlement 

Any quote you get must include a full breakdown of the works needed. Once you have your quote, you can upload it to your claim through MyAviva or at a later date using a link we send you. You should also upload pictures and/or videos of the damage to support your claim.

If your home is too damaged for you to live in safely and securely, your Aviva Signature home insurance covers you for that. We’ll pay for alternative accommodation until you can return to your home, up to £100,000 for buildings insurance and £25,000 for contents insurance. This is definitely an area where having home insurance can ease your mind, as it’s not always possible to know how long you’ll have to live away from your home.

There are things you can do to help prepare for a storm to help reduce any effect on your home. Here are some tips on what action to take before, during and after a storm:

Before the storm 

Keeping on top of basic home maintenance tasks can help your property withstand the worst the British weather can throw at it. It’s a good idea to: 

• Check your roof
  Look for loose or missing tiles, crumbling pointing, or any other signs of damage. Also check your television aerial and satellite dish are firmly attached.
• Secure your fence
  Make sure fence panels are fixed in place and garden gates are in good condition. You don’t want panels flying away or gates swinging wildly in the wind as they could cause injury or further damage to property.
• Remove hazardous branches
  Cut down loose or overhanging branches in your garden, particularly those close to windows or power lines. If a tree is planted in a neighbour’s garden but branches overhang your property, you have the right to cut back those branches (probably best to mention it to them first, though, for the sake of neighbourly harmony).
• Keep gutters clear of moss and leaves
  You don’t have to clean them every day, but if they overflow during a downpour, it’s time to give them a good clear out. Once your gutters are clear, make sure they’re securely fixed in place. 

It may be best to leave these jobs to a professional. If a task involves climbing up a ladder or working near power lines, be sure to get expert help. 

When a storm’s approaching 

If a storm’s on its way, don’t panic. There are still plenty of ways you can minimise the impact of the elements. 

• Secure garden furniture
  Put away ladders, garden furniture, children’s toys or anything else that strong winds could send hurtling around.
• Close and fasten doors and windows
  Don’t forget to secure less frequently used entrances, like loft trapdoors.
• Park vehicles in a garage, if you can
  If you have a garage, use it. If you don’t have one, try to park well away from trees, walls or fences that could fall in the face of strong winds.
• Keep pets indoors
  Unsurprisingly, your pets will not enjoy the effects of a storm. Make sure they are safe and bring small outside pets indoors.
• Prepare a storm emergency kit
  Be prepared just in case you need to leave your home. Pack warm clothes, medicines, a torch, and batteries.

It’s also a good idea to make sure you have your MyAviva login details to hand, just in case you need to get in touch. 

During the storm 

Once a storm hits, stay indoors as much as possible. Only head outside if it’s absolutely essential. 

If you do hear something in your home break, stay safe and don’t try to repair damage until the storm is over.

After the storm 

As well as any damage to buildings, make sure you list any belongings damaged by the storm inside or outside your home. It’s a good idea to take photos or videos on them, too, so you can send them to us. Don’t throw these belongings away, as we may need to see them as we move ahead with your claim.

While you wait for professionals to take care of any significant repairs, there are some things you can do to start the clean-up and get the ball rolling on the claims process:

• If you need to claim, use MyAviva to log it online. This is the quickest and easiest way to get details of your claim to us. 
• Use a plastic sheet to temporarily patch up damaged parts of your home that you can get to safely and easily 
• Check in on vulnerable neighbours or relatives and help them make any arrangements for repairs 
• Remember to keep clear of any electrical or telephone cables that have been blown down or are hanging loose 
• If you’ve got a quote from a local tradesperson for repairs to the damage caused by a storm, you can log them on MyAviva. Again, this will speed up the claims process

Prices don’t always change because of something you’ve done. For example, if there were more floods or storms in your postcode over the past year, that could have pushed your price up. There are also external factors – such as a changing claims market, more expensive repairs, severe weather and changes in law – that might mean your insurance costs more.

Find out more about your home insurance price