UK rain: Does home insurance cover flood damage?

Tens of thousands of UK homes are facing flooding this week and experts are urging homeowners to take action if their insurance doesn’t cover full repair costs.

Fifty parts of the country have been warned of flooding, according to the government-backed government Check For Flooding website.

The Met Office has warned of ‘continued heavy rain’ and issued a weather warning for Wales and South West England.

But insurance experts say the full extent of any damage caused by flooding may not be covered by home contents insurance policies.

This insurance may not pay out for, for example, flood damage to barns, fences and outbuildings, or for the full value of damaged goods in your home.

It is also possible that the costs of other accommodation will not be reimbursed if your house is so flooded that you have to move.

If you live in an area prone to flooding, or if your property has been flooded before, you may not be able to get flood coverage at all.

>> Some insurers reject almost HALF of home insurance claims

Comparethemarket director Helen Phipps said: ‘Flood coverage is generally included as standard in most property and contents insurance policies.

However, it’s important to check the coverage level in your policy text or call your provider if you’re concerned about exclusions.

Most policies do not cover damage to fences, gates and hedges. If you cannot stay in your home during the repair, it is important to check whether you are insured for temporary accommodation.’

That’s why it makes sense to take action to reduce the damage floods can do to your property.

>> Are your auto and home insurance bills going up 30%?

What to do to prepare your home for flooding

Met Office guidelines say you should prepare a “flood plan” before water levels begin to rise in your area. The Meteorological Bureau suggests that households:

• Make a list of useful contact numbers, including their municipality, utilities, and their insurance company
• Write down how they can shut off their electricity and gas supplies if necessary
• Keep their valuables in a safe place
• Think about what they would do to keep their pets, car, and furniture safe
• Write down who they can ask for help and think about the help they can give to more vulnerable friends and neighbors

Also consider putting together a flood kit, which should include insurance and property documents, a flashlight, first aid kit and medicines, warm clothes and blankets, water and food – including for babies and pets, if relevant.

If you own your home, you can also make physical changes to flood-proof your home, although this will incur an upfront cost.

Comparison site Comparethemarket advises homeowners to make their homes more resistant to flooding by:

• Install flood doors and raise electrical outlets
• Lift furniture off the floor with bricks and pallets
• Holding removable barriers and temporary seals for windows, doors and vents
• Placing check valves on toilets and pipes to prevent sewage from entering the home
• Move valuable personal belongings upstairs or put them in waterproof bags if a flood threatens
• Where possible, use more flood-resistant materials, such as ceramic, stone, stainless steel and uPVC instead of wood

What to do if you are underwater

Make sure you and your family are safe and shut off your gas, electricity and water supply.

Once you and your family are safe, the next thing to do is notify your insurer of the flood.

Some insurers offer a scheme called Build Back Better, where they give extra money to make your home more resilient to future flooding.

If you’ve had to leave your home because of a flood, don’t go back until emergency services say it’s safe, the Met Office advises.

Most flood repairs must be done by dealers your insurer appoints.