A storm has lifted tiles from your roof, water is coming through the ceiling, or a fence has been blown down. The priority is stopping further damage safely. Knowing how to claim storm damage can then help you give your insurer the right information, avoid unnecessary delays and understand what you may have to pay yourself.
Do not rush into a full repair before speaking to your insurer unless the work is needed to make the property safe or prevent the damage getting worse. Keep receipts for emergency work, take clear photographs and make a note of when the storm happened. Those small steps can make a real difference if there is a question over the claim later.
Check that the damage is likely to be covered
Most UK buildings and contents insurance policies include storm damage, but cover is not as simple as any damage that happens during bad weather. Insurers usually look at whether there was a recognised storm and whether that storm was the main cause of the damage.
A storm normally involves high winds, heavy rain, hail or snow severe enough to damage a well-maintained property. If rain enters through a roof that was already worn out, for example, the insurer may argue that poor maintenance rather than the storm caused the loss. Likewise, gradual damp, blocked gutters and ageing fences are commonly excluded.
Read your policy schedule and wording before calling if you can do so without delaying urgent action. Check whether you have buildings cover, contents cover or both. Buildings insurance may cover the structure, roof, permanent fixtures, garages and outbuildings. Contents insurance can cover possessions damaged inside the home, subject to the limits and exclusions in your policy.
There are grey areas. A fence damaged by wind may be covered by some policies but excluded by others. Damage to gates, sheds, garden walls and hedges can also have lower limits or no cover at all. Do not assume an item is excluded simply because it is outside, but do check the wording.
Make the property safe first
Your policy will usually require you to take reasonable steps to prevent further loss. That does not mean climbing onto a damaged roof in high winds or carrying out risky electrical work. Your safety comes first.
If water is entering, move furniture and valuables away from the affected area where possible. Turn off electricity if there is a risk of water reaching sockets or wiring, but only if it is safe to do so. Contact an emergency tradesperson for temporary measures such as a tarpaulin, boarding or isolating a damaged water supply.
Use a reputable, insured tradesperson and ask for an itemised invoice. Insurers generally accept sensible emergency costs, but they may question expensive permanent work carried out without approval. If you need to arrange a hotel because the property cannot be lived in, call the insurer first where practical. Many home policies include alternative accommodation, but the insurer may have a preferred process or supplier.
Gather evidence before anything is cleared away
Good evidence makes a claim easier to assess. Take wide photographs showing the affected part of the property and close-ups showing the detail. Video can be useful for leaking ceilings, damaged roof coverings or water entering through a window.
Record the date and approximate time you noticed the damage, along with local weather conditions. Keep screenshots or reports of severe weather warnings if available, although your insurer will have its own weather data. Photograph damaged possessions before disposing of them, and keep the items if it is safe and practical to do so.
For contents claims, make a simple list of what was damaged, when you bought it and what it cost. Receipts, bank statements, order confirmations and older photographs can all help establish ownership and value. You do not need perfect paperwork for every item, but the clearer your evidence, the less back-and-forth you are likely to face.
How to claim storm damage with your insurer
Contact your insurer or its claims line as soon as you reasonably can. Have your policy number ready, but do not delay reporting solely because you cannot find it. Your name, address and a clear description of the incident will usually be enough to open the claim.
Explain what happened in plain terms: when the storm occurred, what was damaged, whether the property is currently safe and what emergency action you have taken. Avoid guessing about the cause if you are unsure. It is better to say that rain entered through missing roof tiles than to state that a particular fault caused it.
The insurer may ask you to upload photographs, complete a claims form or obtain an estimate. It may also appoint a loss adjuster or surveyor, particularly for extensive structural damage. Their role is to inspect the loss and advise the insurer on cause, scope and cost. Be cooperative, but keep your own notes of visits, calls and agreed next steps.
Ask who is responsible for arranging repairs. Some insurers use approved contractors, while others allow you to choose a local firm after agreeing a quote. An approved contractor can simplify the process, but you should still ask about the repair timetable, workmanship guarantee and whether you can raise concerns if the work is unsatisfactory.
Understand your excess and the likely payout
Your excess is the amount you contribute towards a successful claim. For example, if the covered repair cost is £2,000 and your excess is £350, the insurer would normally pay £1,650. Some policies apply a higher excess for escape of water, subsidence or flood, so check that storm damage is not subject to a separate amount.
Insurers generally pay the reasonable cost of restoring the property, not improving it. If an old damaged roof section needs replacing with a modern equivalent because the original material is unavailable, that may be covered. If you choose a more expensive upgrade for personal preference, you may need to pay the difference.
For contents, settlement may be based on new-for-old replacement or the item’s current value, depending on the policy. High-value items can have individual limits. If the insurer offers a cash settlement, make sure it is enough to replace the item reasonably before accepting it.
It is sensible to consider the size of the loss before claiming. A minor repair only slightly above your excess may not be worth a claim if you can afford to pay privately. Home insurance claims can affect future premiums and may reduce the number of insurers willing to offer competitive terms at renewal. That should not stop you claiming for significant damage you are entitled to recover, but it is a practical cost to weigh up.
If the insurer says no
A rejected claim is frustrating, but ask for the decision and the policy reason in writing. The most common dispute is causation: the insurer may say the problem was wear and tear, poor maintenance or a pre-existing defect rather than storm damage.
Review the evidence it relied on, including any surveyor’s report. If you disagree, provide photographs of the property before the storm, invoices showing recent maintenance, a report from an independent qualified roofer or builder, and any weather evidence that supports your case. Focus on facts rather than simply repeating that the weather was bad.
Make a formal complaint if the explanation remains unsatisfactory. The insurer must investigate and issue a final response. If you are still unhappy after that, or it has not resolved the complaint within eight weeks, you can take the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Keep copies of every email, estimate, report and call note from the start.
Keep control of the repair process
Once the claim is agreed, confirm the scope of works in writing. Check that it covers related damage, such as plaster, insulation, flooring or decoration, not just the obvious broken tile or window. Take photographs after repairs are complete and raise concerns promptly if the finish is poor or a leak returns.
Storms are unpredictable, but the claims process does not have to be. Act quickly, document carefully and challenge decisions with evidence where necessary. The aim is simple: get your home safe, get the damage assessed fairly and get back to normal without paying more than you should.