Storm and heat damage: what home insurance covers when the weather turns

What storm cover includes

Storm damage to your home is typically covered by standard buildings insurance, but only if the event meets the policy’s definition of a storm. Insurers commonly define a storm around wind speeds of 55 miles per hour or more, or extreme rain, hail or snow. The structure, including the roof and walls, is usually protected, but fences and gates are often excluded or covered only on a limited basis.

When severe weather hits, the first question is whether the damage counts as storm damage under your policy. Insurers often treat a storm as involving wind speeds of around 55 miles per hour or more, or extreme rain, hail or snow. This threshold matters because damage caused by less severe weather, such as a steady drizzle or a light breeze, may not be covered.

Standard buildings insurance normally covers storm damage to the structure, such as the roof, walls and any permanent fixtures. If a storm tears tiles from your roof or cracks a wall, the cost of repair is usually met, subject to your policy excess. However, the definition of a storm is central to the claim, and the insurer will check weather records to confirm the event met the criteria.

Fences and gates are a common area of confusion. Many policies exclude them from storm cover entirely, or provide only limited cover, such as a fixed payout amount. The policy wording is decisive here, so it is worth checking whether your fence is protected before you assume a claim will succeed. If the fence was already in poor condition, the insurer may argue that the damage was not caused by the storm itself.

Contents insurance also steps in for belongings damaged by a storm, such as furniture soaked by rain entering through a damaged roof. This is subject to any single-item limit in your policy, and you will need to list the damaged items with evidence of their value. Acting quickly to prevent further damage, such as covering a hole in the roof, is expected under most policies, and reasonable emergency repair costs are often recoverable.

Water, flooding and escape of water

Water damage is one of the most common weather-related claims, and the distinction between escape of water and flooding is important. Escape of water from a burst pipe is usually covered, but gradual damage from wear and tear or poor maintenance is not. Flooding is covered by most standard buildings and contents policies, and the Flood Re scheme helps make cover available for high-risk homes.

Escape of water refers to water that leaks from a pipe, tank or appliance within your home. If a pipe bursts during a cold snap or after heavy rain, the resulting damage to your floors, walls and belongings is typically covered by buildings and contents insurance. However, insurers will not pay for damage that has built up slowly over time, such as a leaking joint that has stained a ceiling for months. The cause must be sudden and accidental, not the result of neglect.

Flooding is a separate peril, defined as water entering your home from outside, such as from a river, sea or surface water after extreme rain. Most standard policies include flood cover for both the building and its contents, although the excess may be higher than for other claims. The Flood Re scheme, a joint initiative between the government and insurers, ensures that homes at high risk of flooding can still obtain affordable cover, funded by a levy on all household policies.

When water enters your home, your duty is to limit the damage. This means turning off the water supply if a pipe has burst, moving valuables to a dry place, and contacting your insurer as soon as possible. Insurers expect you to take reasonable steps to protect your property, and failure to do so could reduce your payout. Drying out a property after flooding can take weeks, and your policy may cover the cost of temporary accommodation if your home becomes uninhabitable.

Gradual damage is a frequent reason for declined claims. If a roof has leaked for years and finally collapses during a storm, the insurer may argue that the collapse was due to wear and tear rather than the storm itself. Similarly, a pipe that corrodes over time and then bursts is more likely to be covered than one that has been leaking slowly for months, as the sudden event is the burst, not the corrosion.

Heat, drought and subsidence

Prolonged dry heat can cause subsidence, where clay soils shrink and the ground beneath your home moves, cracking walls and foundations. Subsidence is covered by standard buildings insurance, but it usually carries a higher excess, often around 1,000 pounds. Early signs, such as new or widening diagonal cracks, should be reported to your insurer promptly.

Subsidence is a slow-moving problem that can be triggered by a hot, dry summer. As clay soils lose moisture, they shrink, and the foundations of a building may sink or shift. This can cause cracks to appear in walls, often around doors and windows, and in severe cases can make a property unsafe. Unlike storm damage, subsidence is not a sudden event, but it is still covered by most standard buildings insurance policies.

The excess for subsidence claims is significantly higher than for other perils, often around 1,000 pounds. This means you will pay the first 1,000 pounds of any repair cost yourself, and the insurer covers the rest. Some policies may also require you to use a specific contractor or to carry out monitoring work before repairs begin, such as installing a crack gauge to see if the movement has stopped.

Early signs of subsidence include new cracks that are wider than 3mm, cracks that appear suddenly, or cracks that are visible on both the inside and outside of a wall. Diagonal cracks that start at a corner of a door or window are a classic indicator. If you notice these, you should report them to your insurer promptly, as delaying can make the problem worse and may affect your claim.

Heat can also cause other damage, such as warped roof tiles or melted guttering, but these are less likely to be covered unless they meet the storm definition. The key is whether the damage is sudden and accidental, or the result of gradual deterioration. A roof that has been weakened by years of sun exposure and then collapses is more likely to be declined than one that is damaged in a single hailstorm.

Making a weather-damage claim

To make a successful weather-damage claim, contact your insurer quickly, take dated photographs, and keep damaged items where safe to do so. Contents cover applies to belongings, subject to single-item limits. Most weather claims are paid, but insurers can decline where the cause is poor maintenance rather than a sudden event.

The first step after weather damage is to contact your insurer as soon as possible. Most policies require you to report a claim within a reasonable time, and delays can complicate the process. Have your policy number to hand, and be ready to describe the damage and the date it occurred. The insurer will then guide you on the next steps, which may include sending a loss adjuster to inspect the property.

Take dated photographs of all damage before you start any repairs, and keep damaged items where safe to do so. This evidence is crucial for proving the cause and extent of the damage. Do not throw anything away until the insurer has assessed it, as they may need to see the item to confirm it is beyond repair. Reasonable emergency repairs, such as tarping a roof, are usually covered, but you should keep receipts for any work you pay for.

Contents insurance covers your belongings, but each item is subject to a single-item limit, which is often around 1,000 pounds unless you have specified a higher value. If you have expensive items, such as a designer sofa or a high-end television, you may need to claim on a separate policy or accept a reduced payout. Keep a list of damaged items with their approximate value and any receipts you have.

Most weather claims are paid, but insurers can decline where the damage results from a lack of maintenance rather than a sudden event. For example, if a roof was already leaking before the storm, or a fence was rotten before the wind blew it down, the claim may be refused. The insurer will look at the condition of the property before the event, and if they believe the damage was inevitable, they will not pay. This is why regular maintenance is essential, and why you should keep records of any repairs you have carried out.

Frequently asked questions

Does home insurance cover storm damage?

Standard buildings insurance normally covers storm damage to the structure, subject to the policy's storm definition, often wind speeds around 55 miles per hour or more.

Is flooding covered by home insurance?

Most standard buildings and contents policies cover flooding, and the Flood Re scheme helps make cover available for high-risk homes.

Does insurance cover subsidence in a heatwave?

Subsidence is covered by standard buildings insurance but usually carries a higher excess, often around 1,000 pounds; dry heat can worsen it in clay soils.

Are fences covered for storm damage?

Often not, or only on a limited basis; many policies exclude storm damage to fences and gates, so check the wording.

Can an insurer refuse a weather claim?

Yes, where damage results from wear and tear or poor maintenance rather than a sudden insured event, though most weather claims are paid.