Protecting your home from storm damage – what you need to know
Storms can cause significant damage to your home, from strong winds tearing off roof tiles and falling trees to flying debris smashing windows, as well as heavy rain causing water damage and flooding. What’s more, experts predict that global warming will increase the frequency and severity of storms.
The cost of clearing up storm damage is staggeringly high. Latest figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) reveal insurers paid homeowners a record-breaking £585 million for weather-related damage in 2024. But, while not all storm damage is preventable, you can help lessen the risk to your home.
We look at the risks that storms pose to your property, the steps you can take to protect it, and what you can expect your building insurance policy to cover.
What qualifies as a storm in the UK?
In insurance terms, a storm is a period of violent weather with:
wind speeds with gusts of at least 48 knots (55mph), or;
torrential rain at a rate of at least 25mm per hour, or;
snow to a depth of at least one foot (30 cm) in 24 hours, or;
hail of such intensity that it causes damage to hard surfaces or breaks glass.
Why are some storms given names?
Only the most severe storms are given names. These usually come with amber or red warnings and are likely to cause disruption or damage.
Naming storms started in the UK in 2015 with the aim of improving communication and raising public awareness around severe weather.
Names are chosen by ‘storm naming groups’, which are made up of geographically close countries. For example, the UK’s Met Office, Ireland’s Met Éireann, and the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) make up the ‘western storm naming group’. Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium and Luxembourg make up the ‘south-western storm naming group’.
Every year, an annual list is put together by each group. The list of names is alphabetical and runs from September to September. You can find a list of 2025-2026 storm names at the Met Office. You can even make your own suggestions for storm names at Met Office, name our storms.
While naming storms helps alert the public, remember that severe weather does occur outside of named storms (so make sure you’re prepared).
Does home insurance cover storm damage?
Home insurance policies do cover storm damage to your property, but exactly what’s covered will vary from policy to policy. Be aware that insurers often set a minimum wind speed of 55mph for storm damage claims. Any damage that occurs during wind speeds below this level wouldn’t be covered under the storm damage definition in your policy.
Broadly speaking, home insurance policies will cover:
Damage to your roof (as long as it was in good condition before the storm).
Water damage as a result of a storm (if a storm damaged your roof leading, to water coming into your home).
Damage to guttering (if roof tiles fall into your guttering).
Damage caused by lightning (if your home is at high risk of lightning, you may be expected to install a lightning conductor).
If you also have home emergency cover, you can claim against this policy to quickly make emergency repairs, for example, if fallen trees or branches cause water to enter your home.
If you’re a landlord, you can protect properties against the cost of repairing storm damage with a landlord building insurance policy. You can also combine this with a landlord home emergency policy.
Does home insurance cover flooding?
Most home insurance policies will cover damage caused by flooding. If you live in a high-risk flood area, or your home has been flooded before, your insurer will usually expect you to take precautions to minimise damage. This could include putting together a personal flood plan or having sandbags and flood barriers readily available.
If you’ve been severely affected by flooding in the past, it can also be harder to find insurance in the first place, but government-backed schemes such as Flood Re might be able to help. You can find out more about how to protect your home from floods and your insurance options in our guide to flood damage.
What isn’t covered by storm damage insurance?
Your home insurance will have a set of exclusions (events that aren’t covered by your policy). These can also vary by insurer, but typically, your insurance won’t cover:
Fences, gates, and garden walls (but you may be covered if a tree has fallen on your fence, gate ,or garden wall and caused damage if the main property has also been damaged by the same incident at the same time).
Fallen aerials.
Outdoor furniture.
Incomplete building work (for example, a partially built extension).
Your insurer will also expect your home and property to be regularly maintained; if it isn’t, they can reject your claim. For example, if you make a claim for roof damage after a storm, your insurer will consider the state of the roof beforehand. If it was already in poor condition, they could argue that the damage wasn’t ultimately caused by the storm, but by lack of maintenance, wear and tear, or negligence.
Storm damage involving neighbours
Working out who’s responsible for what after a storm can cause tension between neighbours, but here’s what to consider before you start any conversations.
Damage to shared fences and walls after a storm
If a shared fence or wall has been damaged by storms, you’ll need to check who is responsible for it. Your property title deeds should show this with a ‘T’ symbol.
If the ‘T’ is on your side, then you’re responsible for the fence or wall. If a ‘T’ appears on both sides of the boundary, you and your neighbour share responsibility. If there’s no clear indication of ownership, the presumption is that you’re both responsible.
If a storm has blown a fence down, whoever is responsible for it covers the cost of removal and repair. If the fence or wall poses a danger, then your neighbour will be expected to resolve the issue; if not, you could take legal action.
However, if the fallen fence poses no danger, the fence owner is not obligated to pay for repairs. So, if your neighbour doesn’t want to repair it after a storm, you can’t force them to.
Damage caused by fallen trees
The rules are slightly different if a tree falls during a storm and causes damage - what counts is whose property it lands on.
Generally, if a tree lands on your property after a storm, you’ll need to make a claim on your own home insurance policy (even if the tree belongs to your neighbour). This is because home insurance only covers the property named on the policy; it’s not like car insurance, where you can claim against someone else’s policy.
By the same token, if your tree falls into a neighbour’s garden, they’ll need to make a claim on their insurance.
There is an exception – if you can show that the tree was diseased or already damaged through negligence or lack of care, you may be able to make a claim against your neighbour.
Home and property insurance experts
To get advice on selecting the best home insurance cover for your property, please get in touch with the team.
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FAQs
If you have contents cover, your policy should cover any furniture and possessions damaged in a storm.
You can make a claim for storm damage under your car insurance policy.
Your policy should set out your insurer’s definition of storm damage. Typically, it’s defined as a period of violent weather accompanied by:
wind speeds with gusts of at least 55mph or;
torrential rain of at least 25mm per hour or;
snow of at least one foot (30 cm) in 24 hours or;
hail that causes damage to hard surfaces or breaks glass.
You can only claim for damage that is caused as a direct result of a storm. If it can be shown that the property was already in a poor state of repair before a storm, your insurer could lower your payout or refuse your claim.