Regardless of the cause, we now seem to be suffering the effects of extreme weather on a more regular basis. If the next big storm lands on your doorstep, following a few simple pointers could help ensure you won’t be left counting the cost.
Although snow and ice have been dominating the headlines recently, the average temperature of our winters continues to rise and flooding still remains a major problem for many areas. Storms and extreme weather are not just limited to winter either, as the residents of Boscastle and Tewkesbury will confirm.
With the cost of repairing storm damage averaging £1,000 and up to £20,000 for flood damage, now is not the time to be economising by cutting back on your building and contents insurance.
Double protection
If you are a home-owner then typically your insurance will be split into two parts: building and contents.
While contents insurance covers what’s inside your house, building insurance covers the structure and fittings and can also include domestic outbuildings, patios, driveways and paths. Items typically not covered by your buildings insurance include fences and gateposts, but this does vary from policy to policy.
What is and isn’t covered by your contents and buildings insurance is very dependent on the type of policy you have and very often you will have to pay a little bit more to include any ‘optional extras’.
Although the parts of your house that are most vulnerable to damage from bad weather tend to be on the outside (roofs, guttering, windows etc.), don’t be tempted to scrimp on your contents insurance.
It always makes sense to be adequately covered in both areas, as an extreme weather event (like flooding) could have serious consequences for both the outside of your home and your possessions inside.
When is a 'storm' not a storm?
A comprehensive building insurance policy usually covers events like: lightning strikes, storm damage (including flooding) or damage caused by falling trees. But be warned, it is a bit of a minefield out there.
For example, one insurer might cover you for damage caused by flooding or storm conditions, but not for damage caused by ‘heavy rain’ or ‘high winds’.
Things like the exact classification of a ‘storm’ can be a bit of a grey area. Some insurers will only define something as a storm if it has winds exceeding 56 mph, while others might require an official classification from the Met Office.
Also some insurers will pay out for damage caused by the weight of snow to gutters etc. over a period of time, while others will only pay for the damage caused by the original snow storm.
'Acts of God'
Another potential loophole for insurers are so-called ‘Acts of God’.
An ‘Act of God’ is roughly defined as an event that is seen as being outside of human control and can cover everything from earthquakes to hurricanes to plagues of locust.
Some insurers even include events like lightning strikes, floods and storm damage under ‘Acts of God’ and, if your property is damaged by one of these, they won’t pay up.
As mentioned previously, because extreme weather events are now occurring more regularly, some level of cover for instances such as lighting, storm and floods now tend to be included as standard. However, you should always check with your insurer first.
Beware of loopholes
Any ‘grey’ areas like ‘Acts of God’ or what defines a ‘storm’, are potential loopholes which an insurer could use to wriggle out of paying out for your claim.
The best advice to follow is to always check your level of cover very carefully. Look for specific definitions of things like ‘Acts of God’ in your policy and beware of any vague wording which could be the hiding place for a potential loophole.
If you are unsure on anything, it is always best to check with your insurer. If you wait until making a claim to find out your level of cover, then you could be in for a very nasty shock!
Get the right cover
When it comes to deciding on which policy to take, think about what risks affect you and where you will be most vulnerable. For example: Is your house exposed to strong winds? Are you at risk from over-hanging trees? Do you require any ‘optional extras’ to insure items such as fish ponds or exotic plants?
Getting a policy to cover the eventualities that could directly affect you should help ensure that you are adequately covered should the worst happen.
Even if you are in an area that has been flooded previously or is deemed at risk from flooding, government legislation introduced in 2005 means that insurers are obliged to continue to provide you with insurance.
However, it should be noted that you may find it difficult to switch providers and the cost of cover will be reflected by the risk.
