Storms and storm damage insurance claims becoming increasingly more common in the UK. Storm damage claims have more than doubled in value over the last 5 years and will continue to become more widespread and more costly.
It is important that you know how to prepare your property for a storm, how to keep safe during a storm, and what you should do if you have to make a claim following damage. So, if a storm warning is placed in your area, this blog will have you covered.
Whilst the dictionary definition of a storm is simply ‘a violent disturbance of the atmosphere, with rain, snow or thunder’, insurance companies will have a very different meaning of a storm. What is classed as a storm will depend on who your insurer is, however on average the criteria is:
Some insurer’s may not have a definition of a storm, in which case they will likely refer back to the dictionary definition or the financial ombudsman’s definition, which is ‘high winds accompanied by rainfall’. It is important that you check the wording on your policy and look at the finer terms and conditions.
If you are in an area that is going to be affected by a storm, it is key you do what you can to prepare and reduce the risk of damage. Be sure to check the Met Office for what storm warnings are in place for your area, and the advice they give for those impacted.
Here are our tips to prepare your home for a storm:
From an insurance point of view, there are some key things that should always do to keep your home in good condition to help reduce the risk of severe damage if a storm was to occur. Our advice is to:
Insurance policies do not cover any damage caused by storm to fences, gates, or walls. Therefore, we recommend that you make sure that they’re all in good working order, and that your gates are locked and secure – stopping them from flinging about and breaking in the wind.
If you ever are a victim of property damage following a storm, there are important tips you should follow once you establish that the area is safe:
In the event of damage to your home or business, it is imperative that you take as many photos of the damage as you can. You can never have too many and the more you have the more help it will be for getting your claim handled quickly. You should also make sure to keep hold of any receipts or out of pocket expenses that you may have stored.
Mitigation is a very commonly used word in the insurance industry. In simple terms, mitigation is stopping any further damage to your property. For example this could be by securing your roof temporary repairs, or removing carpet to stop any secondary damage within the property.
Importantly, mitigation is the responsibility of you, the policyholder. Insurance companies say that you must act as if you are not insured and mitigate the loss following storm damage to your property.
The sooner you inform your insurers of the storm damage, the sooner the process of getting your property repaired and back to its best begins. Once you have done that it is recommended you call a loss assessor such as Oakleafe Claims to get the expert help and advice on your claim.
Oakleafe will minimise your stress and workload by handling all the stages for you including meetings, investigations and will arrange alternative accommodation if necessary. We are available 365 days a year, so will always be on hand should the worst happen to you during a storm. Storm damage claims are particularly challenging and so it is important you get someone onboard at an early stage to ensure you get what you deserve from your insurers.
If you have been declined while trying to claim on your domestic or commercial insurance, we can help. We can also help with professional services, for example, Brokers, VAR Valuations and Managing Agents.