Recent high winds may have caused damage to your property, but what do you need to know about insurance claims if your flat roof has suffered storm damage?
It’s a sad fact that August 2019 has become synonymous with storms. Festivals have been cancelled, dams have nearly failed, fallen trees have caused huge delays on the railways and the nation has had to batten down the hatches as high winds and heavy rain play havoc with our summer holiday plans.
Unfortunately, despite a few days’ respite, it doesn’t look like we’re over the worst. The Met Office stated that even more bad weather is on its way and there’s even been the threat of tornadoes.
Of course, it’s not just the disappointment of packing the picnic blankets away and cancelling barbecues; the impact a storm can have on our homes can be both stressful and expensive. So what happens if your flat roof has suffered storm damage? What may affect you making a successfu
What constitutes a storm?
The first thing an insurance provider (and the Financial Ombudsman if the claim is declined and passed to them) will look at is whether the bad weather that occurred at the time you state damage to your flat roof was done, was actually a storm.
A storm is termed as a period of violent winds, which are usually accompanied by snow, rain or hail.
If the bad weather is deemed to constitute a storm, further enquiries will take place such as:
- Looking at weather reports
- Using the Beaufort Scale to measure wind speed
- Gauging the intensity of the storm
- Identifying whether a number of storms took place in a short amount of time, which could have damaged the flat roof
- Looking at where the storm was in relation to the property in question
Was your property in good condition?
It’s all very well stating that your flat roof has suffered storm damage but an insurance company will immediately want to know the type of damage suffered and what condition your property was in beforehand. A surveyor will be sent out to inspect the state of the flat roof and take photographs of the damage. All evidence will then be considered to determine the likely cause of the damage.
At the same time, investigators will look into whether the flat roof was in a poor state of repair at the time of the storm. In these cases, the bad weather may not have actually caused, but simply highlighted, the damage. If your insurance provider deems that you should have been aware of the condition of your flat roof, your claim is likely to be declined.
Alternative claims if your flat roof has suffered storm damage
There are claims that may have been declined for reasonable reasons by the insurer but may still be successfully claimed through other insurance cover. For example, you might be able to claim when your flat roof has suffered storm damage under the accidental damage section of your policy. Therefore it is important that you read your insurance policy very carefully when making a claim.
If your flat roof has suffered storm damage during the recent bad weather, don’t delay – get in touch with your insurance provider as quickly as possible so the damage can be assessed in a timely manner.
If you are concerned that your flat roof is in a poor state of repair and may need repairing or replacing, High-Tech Membrane Roofing can help. Our market-leading flat roofing systems are 100% waterproof, maintenance-free and come with a rock-solid, no-quibble lifetime guarantee.
Please contact High-Tech Membrane Roofing on 01268 859 709 to arrange a free, no-obligation quotation.
We hope you found our article ‘What may affect a claim if my flat roof has suffered storm damage?’ of interest. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require any advice or assistance.
