Storm damage: what insurance covers and what it does not

Storm claims are won and lost on evidence gathered in the first day or two. The repair is usually straightforward. Proving what happened, and when, is the part people get wrong.

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The short answer

Buildings insurance covers sudden damage caused by a storm, typically judged on wind speed and rainfall on the day. It does not cover gradual wear, failed mortar, perished felt or a roof that was already at the end of its life, which is why photographs and dated evidence matter so much.

Make the property safe first

Do not wait for the insurer to authorise anything before preventing further damage. Policies expect you to limit the loss. Contain water inside, move belongings, isolate affected electrics, and get a temporary weathering in place. Keep the receipt for that work, it is normally recoverable.

Photograph everything, dated

Inside and outside, wide shots and close ups, the debris on the ground, the wet ceiling, the displaced tiles. Photographs taken before anything is touched carry far more weight than a description written later. We provide a dated photo pack with every storm attendance as standard.

What insurers usually accept

Tiles lifted or blown off in high wind, a chimney or stack damaged by falling debris, a tree or branch impact, and rainwater entering through damage caused by that event. The claim generally hinges on recorded weather conditions matching the day you report.

What they usually decline

Mortar that had already failed, felt that had perished, gutters blocked with years of debris, and roofs where the covering was plainly beyond its service life. Insurers describe this as wear and tear, and no amount of storm on the day converts it into a valid claim.

The grey area, and how to handle it

An older roof genuinely damaged by a storm is a legitimate claim, but the insurer may argue condition contributed. A clear report separating storm caused damage from pre existing condition, with photographs of each, is what gets these settled. We write ours that way deliberately.

Excess, betterment and matching

Check your excess before claiming, because small repairs are often below it. Insurers may resist paying for an upgrade on what was there, and where an obsolete tile cannot be matched there can be an argument about how much of the slope is renewed. Raise both points early rather than after the work.

Getting the claim moving

Report it promptly, give the policy number and the date of the storm, send the photographs, and provide a written scope and quote. Insurers deal in documents, so the better the paperwork, the faster the authorisation.

FAQs

Should I get the repair done before the insurer inspects?

Do the make safe immediately and photograph everything first. Hold off on the permanent repair until it is authorised, unless leaving it would cause further damage.

Will claiming push my premium up?

It can, which is why it is worth comparing the likely repair cost against your excess before deciding. We will give you the figure so you can make that call.

Do you deal with insurers directly?

We provide the dated photographs, the written scope and the report the insurer needs, and we speak to loss adjusters where it helps. The policy relationship stays yours.

How quickly can you attend after a storm?

Storm damage with water coming in is treated as urgent across our coverage area. Call and we will tell you honestly when we can be there rather than promising a slot we cannot keep.

Get a fast quote

Family-run and Hampton-based. Tell us what you're seeing on the roof and we'll come and look properly before quoting.

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