Don’t get caught out in a home insurance storm
When Etta James sang Stormy Weather, we doubt she had Brits battling broken fence panels and trampolines hurtling through the air in mind, but that seems to be modern life.
Are storms happening more often? Viewber has dug a little deeper into this weather trend. Many weather experts will tell you the frequency and severity of storms hasn’t changed for decades. Instead, meteorologists say the fairly new process of naming storms makes these weather events appear more regular.
Why are storms named?
The Met Office started naming storms in 2015 to help communicate the risks of severe weather and alert the general public in a more relatable way. Each season, 21 names on an alphabetical list are set aside. Each qualifying storm is then given a name, starting with the letter A.
The point at which blustery weather is upgraded to a named storm relates to the potential to cause ‘medium’ or ‘high’ impacts, taking into account wind speed, gusts, rain and snow. Each named storm comes with a colour coded alerts, with red being the most severe, followed by amber and yellow.
Are storms increasing in frequency?
There are typically six or seven named storms in a UK autumn/winter but in the 2023/24 season, there were 12. As for now, Darragh was the fourth named storm this season. We have a long way to go, however, as the naming period started in early September 2024 and won’t end until late August 2025.
Counting the cost
Storm Darragh was severe enough for a rare red alert to be issued in some parts of the UK, with wind speeds of 96 mph recorded in Devon. According to the Met Office, gales and wind damage costs around £300 million each year, with many of us turning to our insurance policies to make repairs and replacements.
Is your insurance policy robust enough?
Not all of us take time to read the small print when taking out a home insurance policy. It’s only when someone tries to claim that they discover the policy isn’t as comprehensive as they imagined.
In the case of damage to property and contents during a storm, there are several aspects that may prevent a policy from paying out and these will be set out in the policy (although you may have to read every last word to understand what is and isn’t covered). Before paying out, your insurer may consider:
- Was the storm serious enough?: each insurance company will have its own definition of what is classed as a storm – it usually use wind speed as a defining characteristic. Frequently, the insurer will look for evidence that wind speeds were greater than 55 miles per hour and/or torrential rainfall of 25mm per hour or more, with proof that the weather caused significant damage.
- Was poor maintenance to blame?: an insurer may include certain exclusions within a policy pertaining to negligence and poor maintenance. If they feel the storm damage was a result of the policyholder failing to keep items and structures well maintained, the policy may be voided in a storm situation. An insurer may also dismiss a claim if they feel general ‘wear and tear’ or gradual deterioration led to the damage.
- Was it an Act of God?: some insurers absolve themselves of paying out for storm damage by refusing to insure incidents they class as an Act of God. These acts are deemed to be events outside of human control, or are unpredictable/unpreventable. Storms, floods and hurricanes can fall into this category.
Putting the right type of cover in place
Although storms are totally out of our control, having the right insurance policy in place will take the sting out of the clear up. Homeowners should consider the following and read the small print for details of what is – and isn’t – covered:
Contents cover
Contents cover is likely to insure what’s been added to a garden and will pay out to replace items that are damaged. Items usually covered include garden furniture, barbecues, lawnmowers, children’s toys, garden ornaments, play equipment and plant pots. Contents cover is unlikely to cover garden walls, fences, gates, patios and driveways.
Buildings cover
Buildings cover is designed to insure more substantial outdoor elements that fall within a property’s boundary. This can include outbuildings, garden rooms, fences, sheds, garage, gates, conservatories.
Unoccupied property insurance
If there is no one living at an address, an unoccupied property insurance policy must be taken out. This type of policy usually requires periodic inspections of the empty dwelling to ensure it is being properly maintained. The terms of the policy may also specify how frequently inspections should happen in order for claims to be valid. If storm damage occurs and inspections have not taken place in accordance with the terms, the policy could be declared void.
10 tips to see you through the next storm
You can increase the validity of your insurance policy and reduce the risk of storm damage by undertaking the following:
- Checking fence panels for signs of wear, tear and rot, replacing where required
- Storing garden toys and ornaments inside a shed or garage
- Tethering or weighing down large items, such as trampolines, slides and barbecues
- Moving garden furniture to a sheltered spot
- Taking down parasols
- Collapsing washing lines
- Cutting back overhanging branches
- Commissioning a tree survey to identify the health of any old/precarious trees
- Inspecting roofs and chimneys for cracks, missing mortar and loose fittings
- Clearing debris and fallen leaves from drains, storm grills and gutters
Check on properties in storm season
Viewber has been working with property owners to ensure their dwellings are weathering winter storms. A Viewber can become the designated person who visits an unoccupied property, ensuring an insurance policy remains valid. We can also visit any property in the UK that has been left vacant – perhaps during an extended holiday, between a sale and purchase or during a rental void – to check for signs of storm damage. All our property visits are accompanied by a photo-backed report, with video footage if required.
Don’t let the next storm catch you off guard (it’s going to be called Éowyn). Follow the Met Office on social media and contact Viewber to register to book checks and inspections on properties.
Our network covers the entire UK and our Viewber Members are ready to visit any property seven days a week, with evening appointments available.
