Your insurance coverage information for houses and automobiles broken by Storm Henk
- High winds and heavy rain have brought on large harm to UK property
- Insurance ought to be capable to assist – nevertheless it’s greatest to get your declare in rapidly
More than a thousand households have been flooded as a result of current heavy rain and excessive winds introduced by Storm Henk, with motor automobiles additionally broken by the horrible climate.
The Environment Agency stated each river in England is operating excessive, with some at their highest stage on report. This week’s heavy rain has led to 649 flood warnings throughout the UK.
A flooded residence or a water-damaged automotive generally is a worrying and worrying expertise for the proprietor.
Here is your information to insurance coverage compensation for flooded automobiles, homes and caravans.
Waterlogged: Insurers say flood harm to automobiles and homes must be reported instantly
Specialist loss adjuster Woodgate and Clark warned this week that the floods are more likely to trigger an increase in insurance coverage claims.
Claiming for a flooded residence
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) commerce physique says that harm brought on by floods and storms are coated by most traditional residence insurance coverage and business enterprise insurance policies.
Louise Clark, common insurance coverage coverage adviser on the ABI, stated: ‘Insurers anticipate dangerous climate to strike at any time and occasions corresponding to this are precisely what your insurance coverage is for.
‘Their precedence proper now could be to assist any affected prospects recuperate as rapidly as attainable. If you will have been affected by flooding, contact your insurer as quickly as you possibly can and they’re going to be capable to supply assist and recommendation.’
If your own home has been flooded, the ABI’s recommendation is to contact your insurer as quickly as attainable.
A loss adjuster, appointed by your insurer, will then contact you. The loss adjuster will prepare on your residence to be cleaned and stripped out
The property will probably be disinfected and dried out, which may take weeks or months, with some properties taking a yr or extra.
Your insurer will prepare for any restore work that’s required after which inform you when it’s protected to maneuver again residence.
Claiming for storm harm to your own home
If you will have suffered storm harm to your own home, the ABI’s recommendation is to:
- Contact your insurer as quickly as attainable
- If vital, prepare short-term emergency repairs to cease any harm getting worse, however communicate to your insurer first
- If you need to prepare emergency repairs your self, inform your insurer and hold any receipts, as it will kind a part of your declare
- Do not be in a rush to throw away broken objects, except they’re a hazard to well being, as these might be able to be repaired or restored. Your insurer will advise
- If your own home is uninhabitable whereas repairs are being carried out your insurer might be able to pay so that you can keep in short-term lodging, relying in your coverage
Claiming for a flooded automotive
The ABI stated that complete motor insurance coverage insurance policies principally do cowl flood harm to automobiles and vans.
However, even complete automotive cowl is not going to pay out for all types of water ingress to automobiles.
Troubled waters: Many automobiles have suffered harm from flooding brought on by Storm Henk
Most automotive insurance coverage offers will cowl unavoidable water harm, corresponding to if rising river ranges swamp a parked automobile.
But they won’t pay out for avoidable harm, for instance for those who damage your automotive by driving it into water that was deeper than you thought.
Insurance worth comparability web site Go Compare stated: ‘Insurance will solely pay out for “unavoidable’ damage” – so for those who intentionally drive via flood water, you is probably not coated.’
If your automotive is broken by flood water, contact your insurers as quickly as attainable.
They will in all probability pay for a mechanic to go to and advise on the subsequent steps.
If you will have belongings in a flooded automotive, your customary automotive insurance coverage deal could not pay for harm to them except it consists of private possessions cowl.
Many caravans have additionally been broken by excessive water ranges.
Karen Stacey, managing director of caravan insurer Compass, stated: ‘The first storm of 2024, Storm Henk, has brought on important flood harm to vacation caravans throughout the UK.
‘Our stats present that storm and flood harm make up 32 per cent of insurance coverage claims, and in a single such occasion, a whole static caravan was destroyed throughout a storm, leading to a £148,590 declare.
‘In flood-prone areas, vacation residence house owners could must verify that their coverage doesn’t have flood-related restrictions or necessities, corresponding to becoming a floatation machine.
‘While floods can’t be predicted or prevented solely, having a complete insurance coverage coverage in place may also help keep away from being not noted of pocket ought to the worst occur.’
