As homeowners recover from the storms that raged across the UK, many will be assuming that repairs for any damage will be covered by their home insurance.
But 1.78 million householders are not covered, with a further 656,000 unsure whether they are covered or not.
To make matters worse, those who are covered could see their premiums leap as a result of a claim – that’s if storm damage is covered at all!
What should Homeowners do?
Decide whether the cost of repairing the damage is worth the extra premiums you may be paying.
Take photos and keep any spoilt items that will assist with the claim. Also keep any references to the storm e.g from the local paper or the web a, as assessors can cast doubt that storm damage happened in your area.
If you have undertaken immediate repairs keep a receipt.
Making a claim - if you think you can make a claim, ask your insurer for a claim form – you may be able to download it from their website. Complete it and return it with an estimate of the cost of repairs or replacements. Don’t make a false claim –it’s illegal and will invalidate your claim.
If you are unaware of the estimates, get a loss adjustor – insurance companies are wary of them and may provide their own.
