Families have been left to pick up the pieces as our region recovers from yet another storm, causing damage to properties, leaving homes without power, and causing cancellations or delays to flights.
The clean up is continuing today after Storm Eunice yesterday came hot on the heels of Storm Dudley the previous day.
Last night, Northern Powergrid said power supplies to over 26,000 customers have been affected in the North East and Yorkshire, with over 100 customers still affected in our region this morning.
Strong gusts continued to cause damage with damage to several buildings in Sunderland while some Tyne and Wear Metro services remain off as the clean up continues after the effects of Storm Dudley.
The most recent storms follows Corrie on January 29, Malik on January 28, Barra on December 5 and Arwen on November 25.
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Householders are now faced with the prospect of getting things back to normal as quickly as they can, but what are your rights when your home or car are damaged by bad weather and how do you go about making a claim?
Unfortunately you often only find out just how good your insurance is when you have to make a claim, but we have produced a guide to help you through the process.
Am I covered?
Although you should check with your insurance provider, most home insurance policies offer storm damage cover as standard.
The key thing to look for on your policy is 'buildings cover'. This is the policy that will cover any damage to the structure of your home, such as damaged roofs, windows or walls.
If you only have contents insurance you could be left with a hefty bill if something happened to the structure of your home, as this type of cover only pays out if the contents of your home are affected, such as furniture or carpets.
Typical storm claims include:
Tiles, slates, ridge or hip tiles missing or dislodged
Felt roofs blown away
Damage caused by fallen trees
Water damage
Policies will not cover pre-existing damage or items broken because they were not maintained, such as:
Cement deterioration on brickwork and chimneys
Failed render on the building exterior
Deterioration to the roof or building
Aged flat roofs
If your home is left uninhabitable, your insurer should pay for alternative accommodation until they repair the house and you can move back in.
What do I do if my home has been damaged by a storm?
Most home insurance policies can include emergency repairs, but this must be arranged through the insurance company and organised as soon as possible to stop the damage getting worse.
Insurance companies have 24-hour helplines to assist you with this.
If you need to make a claim:
- Call your insurance provider as soon as possible
- Take photos of the damage and make notes.
- Keep everything, even if it is damaged, as your insurer may want to see it
- If you policy does not include emergency repair and you need to call someone out urgently, keep the receipts to give to your insurer
- Cover damaged roof with plastic sheet or tarpaulin to temporarily repair only if it is safe
You will often need to provide evidence of the condition of your home before it was damaged and prove that, for example, the broken roof tiles were the result of storm damage and not due to general wear and tear before the storm hit.
Will I have to pay anything?
If you claim on your insurance because of storm damage, you will have to pay for the excess on your policy and may also lose your no claims bonus.
According to MoneySuperMarket, "Whatever type of claim you make, you’ll have to make an excess payment at the agreed level towards the cost of the claim.
‘If you have a no claims bonus, you may also lose some or all of it by claiming – meaning your insurance will be more expensive when you come to renew your policy."
What happens if I rent my home?
If damage occurs to a rental property, speak to your landlord who will need to make a claim on their insurance or cover the cost themselves.
My shed has been damaged - is it covered?
Insurance policies do not usually include damage to garden furniture or fences, unless specifically added, so the chances are you won’t get much luck with your insurers if your garden or shed has been damaged.
It’s always worth checking your policy though, as there is a chance you might be covered.
What if my neighbour's house was damaged due to debris from my property?
You may be covered on your insurance, or your neighbour may be able to claim for any damage caused by something coming loose from your house or garden.
It would be depend on the circumstances - for instance, if a roof tile that was already loose blew into your neighbour's window, your claim is likely to be invalid and you would have to foot the bill yourself.
Can my neighbour be held liable for damage caused to my property?
If a tree from your neighbour’s garden has fallen into yours, you may be able to make a liability claim via their insurance.
Start by talking to your neighbour and asking them to check if their insurance will cover the damage.
If they refuse or don’t have insurance, you’ll need to raise the matter with your insurance provider. It may be that they settle the claim, then recover their costs from the neighbour or their insurance provider.
Will my home insurance cover damage to my car?
No. Car insurance covers the cost of repairing or replacing vehicles damaged by storms.
Most drivers have a comprehensive insurance policy which will cover you if your car is hit by tree or debris blowing around.
However, a third party policy will not cover storm damage, so check your policy before making a claim.
