UK weather and your insurance rights if your home is damaged by Storm Jocelyn

23 January 2024 , 13:10

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Flooding in York as Storm Jocelyn arrives in the UK (Image: PA)

Storm Jocelyn is set to bring more strong wind and heavy rain to parts of the UK - just one day after Storm Isha left five people dead.

The Met Office has issued amber and yellow weather warnings for much of the UK, with winds of up to 80mph are expected in the north and west of Scotland. Heavy rain is also expected in parts of the UK, which could result in flooding and travel disruption.

But can you claim on your insurance if your home or car is damaged in the terrible weather? We spoke to the experts to find out what you need to know.

Of course, do keep in mind that you would always need to pay any excess included in your policy if you do make a claim.

Can I claim on my home insurance?

It can be worrying and frustrating if your home has been damaged by bad weather - but the good news is, you should be covered by buildings and contents insurance. If you're worried, Ceri McMillan, Go.Compare home insurance expert, said you should check your home insurance policy so you know what cover you have in place.

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She said: "There are a number of different features of a policy which may cover you if you need to make ­a claim. So, spending five minutes to understand the terms and conditions of your policy will definitely be a good use of time."

But there are some things that won't normally be covered, explained Ceri. For example, very few home insurance policies will cover you for any damage to a fence caused by bad weather. Ceri also warned how parts of your home that have been poorly maintained, or were already damaged, are unlikely to be covered.

She said: "If your roof was in a bad state of repair and damage occurs during a storm or high winds which wouldn’t have happened if the roof had been properly maintained, then the likelihood is that you would not be covered for this."

If your home has been damaged, the first thing you should do is make a note of the time and date it occurred. You should also take some photos or a video as soon as it is safe to do so.

Can I claim on my car insurance?

Tom Banks, car insurance spokesperson for Go.Compare, said most comprehensive car insurance policies will provide you with some cover for storm damage. This can include falling trees, flying debris, or extreme hail.

Tom said: "If you need to make a claim, then take photos and videos of the scene and any damage. Leave any debris in place until you have spoken to your insurer, ringing them up with your policy number ready."

But he warned that if you do need to make a claim, your no-claims discount will likely be affected. This is because claims due to bad weather normally fall under the "at fault" category.

If you have a third party, theft and fire policy or third party policy, then Tom said you will likely not be covered for storm damage. You also might not be protected if you ignore travel warnings.

Tom said: "If you ignore warnings not to travel or a closed road sign then your claim is likely to be rejected, or if you drive through high flood water that could have been avoided."

Levi Winchester