In short
It depends on whether the storm was the main cause. The Financial Ombudsman asks three questions: were there storm conditions, does the damage look like storm damage, and was the storm the main cause rather than wear and tear. A roof that was already in poor repair is the usual reason a claim is turned down.
This is a job for our Roof Repairs & Leak Tracing service.
The three questions
When a storm damage claim is declined and the customer complains, the Financial Ombudsman Service asks whether storm conditions occurred on or around the date, whether the damage is consistent with storm damage, and whether the storm was the main cause or the damage might have happened anyway.
Wear and tear is the sticking point
Many policies exclude wear and tear and gradual deterioration. The Ombudsman gives the example of a flat roof that was already in a poor state before the storm: if the storm only highlighted an existing problem, a complaint is unlikely to be upheld.
What to do after a storm
- Stay safe: keep away from anything loose and do not climb onto the roof.
- Take photographs from the ground and note the date and time.
- Stop further damage where you can safely do so, and tell your insurer.
- Get a roofer to make the roof safe and write down what failed and why.
How we help
When we carry out a storm repair we tell you plainly what we found, including whether it looks like fresh storm damage or something older. We cannot decide your claim, but an honest account of the roof's condition is what your insurer will ask for.