Homeowners urged to ensure that home insurance covers weather damage

INSURERS are reporting a spike in home insurance policy claims due to the property damage in Scotland that has been caused by snow and ice.

The Scotsman reported in December that one in 20 homes will be damaged by bad weather this winter, at an average cost of £600. As such, it is more important than ever for homeowners to check that their home insurance policies provide adequate cover in the event of bad weather damage.

During similar cold weather conditions last winter, the level of claims for burst pipes and the escape of water by Scottish households rose by 80 per cent. The cost of repairs to water pipes and boilers can escalate quickly, and some homeowners are discovering that the damage isn't adequately covered by their home insurance.

When considering home insurance quotes, in addition to car insurance and bike insurance, it is important to think about value for money, rather than simply going for the cheapest policy possible. A good insurance comparison website will enable you to easily compare policies and the cover on offer, therefore making it simple and easy to find the best policy for you at the cheapest price.

As well as home content insurance, homeowners need to ensure that the fabric of the building is covered against damage. Snow and ice can cause collapsed gutters as well as the loss of roof tiles and slates, whereas branches breaking off nearby trees due to snow and ice build up can easily damage the structure of a property. Some of these claims, however, will not result in a payout due to inadequate cover.

This has led to a rise in complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) with regards to home insurance policies not paying out in claims of damage caused by bad weather conditions. The Scotsman reported a spokesman for the FOS as saying: "Sometimes people argue that damage has been a result of the weather, whereas the insurer will say that the problem is one of existing wear and tear."

This is where it can obviously pay to be clear on what your insurer constitutes as wear and tear, and carefully read any exclusion clauses that your policy may have with regards to weather damage. Using an insurance comparison website, as you would for car or bike insurance, can make it easier for you to compare policies and make sure that you are happy with the small print before committing to an insurer.

Adverse weather conditions can seriously damage a property and having suitable insurance in place can afford you peace of mind that you will not be affected financially if the worst should occur. It can, however, be very inconvenient to have a property suffer weather damage, as those families evacuated due to flooding will testify. Where possible, prevention is always better than cure, and one part of northern Scotland is taking steps to prevent flooding in its area.

Elgin and its surroundings have been severely affected by flooding. Many properties suffered water damage in 1997, 2002 and 2009, due to flooding of the River Lossie, with 600 people having to be evacuated during the most recent floods. To help prevent this in the future, Moray Council is rolling out a flood protection scheme, as detailed on moray.gov.uk.

These measures should help to lower home insurance claims in the area, therefore hopefully lowering premiums. Residents should see a decrease in their premiums as they rebuild their no claims history and become more attractive customers to insurers.

When it comes to the weather it can be impossible to predict if, when and how your property could be affected. That's why it is definitely wise to make sure that you and your property are as protected as possible. That may mean taking preventative measures such as ensuring that your property is as weather-proof as possible, and that the property is kept in general good repair. In addition to good preventative measures, having adequate insurance from a provider that you trust can give you peace of mind that, should you be unable to prevent weather damage to your property, it will at least be properly insured and you won't be left out of pocket.

Extreme weather conditions have recently affected our roads, jobs and livelihoods. Ensure that you have done what you can to protect your property from weather damage and rest easy that you are well prepared to brave whatever our unpredictable weather may send your way.