Will more extreme weather in the UK affect home insurance?

Extreme weather could become more frequent in the UK. Here’s how it might affect your home insurance – and how to prepare.

Graphic designer Eddie Deighton and his wife Karen moved from London to rural Wiltshire, choosing a stone-built cottage nestled beside the dappled beauty of the River Avon. They even have a pop star as a near neighbour.

But things took a turn when the spring behind their garden overflowed during a spell of prolonged rainfall. They spent three months carefully taping up windows and doors and strategically positioning sandbags. Eventually, their house was overcome by the sheer volume of water around its walls.

“The whole of our downstairs and the attached cottage we use as a B&B were under water,” recounts Eddie, who turns 60 this year. “The damage was immense – resulting in a £190,000 insurance claim and us moving out for 13 months while the house was refurbished. It was the toughest experience of my life.”

Now, Eddie and Karen’s property is back to its stunning best. They recently featured in an episode of Channel 4’s Four in a Bed to publicise the rejuvenated B&B business.

“We’ve invested heavily in a variety of flood-defence measures to mitigate the risk in future,” Eddie says. “These include drainage ditches, automatic pumps and a culvert to redirect excess water into the Avon. Even so, we feel anxious during extended periods of rainfall.”

Is extreme weather becoming more common in the UK?

The Deightons’ experience may be extreme, but a growing number of us face the threat of severe weather affecting our property.

According to the Met Office, all of the UK’s 10 warmest years on record have happened since 2002. Similarly, six of the 10 wettest years have been recorded since 1998.

These changes lead to an elevated risk of incidents like drought, flooding and storms – and they look set to continue in future. Thanks to climate change, say the Met Office’s experts, we can expect “more frequent and intense weather extremes”.

How extreme weather impacts home insurance costs

Changing weather patterns can have an impact on insurance premiums. At Age Co, we offer Home Insurance provided by LV=.  Their underwriters explain how weather is considered during the pricing process.

“When we calculate the price of your home insurance, we look at the likelihood of severe weather conditions happening in the future and how many of our customers may be affected,” the underwriting team says. “Extreme weather can cause damage to homes and increase the number of insurance claims for things like burst pipes or flooding, so we take that into account in our pricing.”

Understanding specific risks, such as flooding

If a property faces a specific risk, this can also have an impact on the cost of insuring it. “For example,” says LV=, “if your home is in an area prone to flooding, you may be more likely to make a claim, so that is factored into your premium.”

Because of the associated costs and risks, if you’re buying a new house, it’s worth carrying out a survey with a chartered surveyor. They’ll be able to quantify flood risk to a specific property.

For those in areas at the highest risk of flooding, who worry about insuring their property, the government’s Flood Re scheme was set up in 2016 to help. Participating insurance companies, such as LV=, pay a levy towards a fund that takes on the flood-risk element of a policy. It keeps premiums manageable for those in high-risk flood areas, while ensuring homeowners are protected for valid claims.

Click here to learn more about flood risks and home insurance.

Protecting your house against extreme weather

Higher insurance costs are one thing. But the emotional toll of severe weather affecting your property often cuts deeper – as the Deightons discovered.

“I’d advise anyone to get expert advice about protecting their home from extreme weather, especially if they’re at high risk,” says Eddie. “We were able to access government grants to help with the cost of some of our modifications, but we also used our savings. It’s worth it for the peace of mind that comes from having protection.”

Home alterations you might consider

Higher-cost alterations, which homeowners near waterways or other water sources might consider, include things like:

• Roof upgrades to protect against damage from high winds, heavy rain or damp
• Water-resistant flooring materials such as ceramic tiles in place of carpets or wood
• Flood-proof doors and windows
• Flood barriers to keep water away from your property

And, for those worried about being struck by one of the 200,000 to 300,000 lightning bolts the UK and Ireland experiences each year, a lightning conductor can be fitted to your property’s highest point.

“With extreme weather events becoming more common across the UK, people understandably want to know how to protect themselves and their homes,” says Jonathan Fong, the Association of British Insurers’ manager for general insurance policy.

“Simple steps include regularly checking and clearing your gutters, fixing loose tiles, safely removing any loose or overhanging branches from trees near your home, and keeping on top of home maintenance by fixing any leaks or repairing cracks in doors and windows as soon as possible*. Signing up to flood alerts, and installing airbrick covers if you live in a flood-prone area, can also help protect you if flooding is expected.”

What to do if your home experiences extreme weather

“Insurers are braced for bad weather at any time and their first priority will always be to help their customers recover as quickly as possible,” says Jonathan Fong. “If your home is damaged, contact your insurer as soon as you can so they can start the claims process for you.”

Perhaps the best advice is to be vigilant about the weather conditions, as Eddie concludes from his own hard-won experience: “Prepare for the worst. If it does happen, you’ll find a way through. The flood was a hugely difficult time for us, but we emerged from it stronger than ever.”

For more advice on keeping you and your home safe during a storm, click here.

Summary

Extreme weather could be on the rise in the UK. However, there are ways to prepare your home. If you’re concerned about the impacts of storm or flood damage, keep these key points in mind:

• If your home sits in an area at high risk of flooding, your insurer will take this into account while you get a home insurance quote.
• To minimise the risk of flood damage, you might consider investing in flood-barriers or flood-proof doors and windows.
• Alternatively, simple maintenance tasks, like keeping your gutters clean and trees pruned back, can also minimise the risk of damage during storms*.
• If your home does experience flood or storm damage, get in touch with your insurance provider as soon as it’s safe to do so – they’ll not only start the claims process, but your policy may cover alternative accommodation.

*Always be cautious when undertaking any DIY task that you aren’t familiar with, seek professional help where needed.