My Roof is Leaking! Can I Claim on my Home Insurance?

You’re all cosy at home, in front of the fire listening to the heavy rain drumming against the window. Everything is great, until you notice a damp patch on the ceiling. Your roof is leaking! Not great, but at least you have home insurance.

But is your leaking roof covered by your home insurance? The answer is maybe.

What is Water Ingress and How Does it Affect a Roof Leak Insurance Claim?

To put it simply, water ingress happens when water from outside enters your home. It can cause extensive damage to your interior. There are many causes of water ingress, such as, blocked gutters, faulty flashing, or a failed damp proof course.

One common cause of water ingress is damage to your roof. Missing or broken tiles, or faulty flashing around the chimney can all give water access into your property. Not all water ingress is covered by your home insurance and, if your roof is leaking, there are a few things you will need to consider.

 

Does Home Insurance Cover Roof Leaks?

Your home insurance will provide cover for storm damage to your roof; however, this is dependent on both your policy wording and the cause of the damage.

Damage caused by a storm or a falling tree will likely be covered under your insurance policy.

What will not be covered is damage due to wear and tear or lack of maintenance. For example, if your roof is leaking and poor maintenance is the cause, any cost of repairs for the resulting damage will fall to you.

 

Read More: Storm Damage Insurance Claim: Everything you need to know

How do insurers define storms?

This may seem like a silly question! Strong winds, heavy rainfall, thunder and lightning, these things make up a storm, don’t they? Maybe not.

An insurer’s definition of a storm may differ significantly to your definition. The Financial Ombudsman Service defines a storm as “[Something that] generally involves violent winds, usually accompanied by rain, hail or snow.”

Some insurers, but not all, may include a detailed definition of a storm within their policy documents. For example, they may dictate that only winds above a certain speed qualify as a storm.

When assessing a potential storm damage claim, your insurer will look at various factors such as wind speed or the amount of rain or snow fall.

Your insurer will use a specialist weather platform to gain detailed information concerning the weather conditions at the time of the incident. If you instruct Aspray, we use WeatherNet, a platform used by over 90% of insurers, that shows historical weather data for temperature, rainfall, sunshine, and wind. Should a storm be the cause of the damage, data from WeatherNet can help Aspray validate your claim with your insurance company.

Severe Gales and Wind: Are you Prepared?

Are flat roofs covered by home insurance?

Yes, flat roofs can be covered on your home insurance policy, provided you have informed your insurer that part of your roof is flat. With a notoriously bad reputation throughout the insurance industry, flat roofs often have extra clauses within an insurance policy, advising that they must be inspected regularly, and inspection records kept.

A flat roof can suffer from pooling of water in wet weather, increasing the risk of water ingress. However, if your flat roof is in good condition, your insurer may consider the damage a flood claim. There can also be an increase of risk to burglary as thieves may use a flat roof to gain access to windows.

If your flat roof is leaking, you will need to ensure you have met the conditions of your policy in order to make a claim.

What if my roof leak is due to wear and tear?

A roof leak caused by wear and tear will not be covered by your insurance policy. A condition of most insurance policies is the expectation that you will maintain your property, which includes looking after the roof.

Climate change and the insurance industry

How can Aspray help?

If you are making a claim on your home insurance, Aspray can help.

Aspray work on behalf of you, the policyholder, dealing directly with your insurer to achieve a fair settlement and, using vetted contractors, reinstate the property to its pre-loss condition. Call 0800 077 6705 to speak with our experienced claims team, who will take details about your claim and arrange a time for an assessor to visit your property.