Many properties might be damaged by the heavy rainfall predicted by the Met Office over the next 24 hours.
Halifax warned Britain's homeowners today to protect their properties in advance of this weekend's storms.
The Met Office has said that around 50mm worth of rain is set to fall on the UK over today and part of tomorrow - enough for two weeks during a typical September. The south west, Wales and the north east of England are anticipated to be the areas worst hit.
To avoid having to make a home insurance claim due to damage being caused, Halifax said today that it recommends that any potentially hazardous objects be secured, such as garden furniture and bicycles. Low hanging branches should be cut back and gutters cleared in preparation for the heavy rain, the firm said.
Senior claims manager for Halifax Home Insurance, Martyn Foulds, added: "With the cost of storm damage claims often running into thousands, it certainly makes sense for homeowners to take whatever preventative steps they can at this stage to reduce the risk of damage to their homes."
He added: "Increasing incidents of extreme weather conditions, such as wind and flood, make it more vital than ever for homeowners to take regular preventative steps to protect their property before disaster strikes."
Insurance firms can suffer large financial hits from extreme weather conditions. For example, last June and July's flooding in central and southern England carried a total bill of around £3 billion, according to the Association of British Insurers.
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