Storm Ciaran due to hit the UK this week– protect and prepare your home ahead of predicted blasts

As the Met Office issues multiple yellow weather warnings across the UK ahead of Storm Ciaran, Go.Compare home insurance is urging Brits to check their buildings insurance policies to check that they are properly protected from storm damage.

Forecasters have predicted that Storm Ciaran will hit the UK in the coming days, with flood warnings in place across parts of the south of England, south and west Wales and parts of Scotland. Later in the week will see winds of up to 80 miles per hour on the south coast of England, with gusts of around 50 or 60 miles per hour expected in more inland areas, as well as heavy downpours.*

Ceri McMillan, Go.Compare’s home insurance expert, said: “With some of the country still struggling to clean up after Storm Babet, no one will be happy to hear that there is more extreme weather on the way. It’s a sad fact that these storms are becoming more and more commonplace in the UK, so we have to be prepared for extreme weather conditions.

“Safety for you and your family will always be the utmost priority if a storm hits, but if you’re a homeowner, you may also be concerned about the risk of damage to your garden, house and any outbuildings.

“If you know that your area is likely to be impacted by Storm Ciaran, it’s worth checking your home insurance policy documents to understand the cover that you have in place. Home insurance and cover for storm damage can vary significantly across the market. It’s not just a case of adding “storm cover” as an optional extra to a policy, there are a number of different features of a policy which will cover you if you need to make a claim. So, spending five minutes to understand the terms and conditions of your policy will definitely be a good use of time.”

Ceri explained: “If your home has been impacted during a weather incident, it’s important that you make a note of the time and date so you can inform your insurer should you need to claim. Most insurance companies have some specifications as to what they deem a weather-related incident, so ensuring you have it all written down will help you if you need to make a claim. Also take some photos or a video of the damage as soon as it is safe to do so, which you can again share with the insurer when you make a claim.

“Another thing worth considering is that a storm can highlight problems with your home due to lack of maintenance or wear and tear – so if your roof was in a bad state of repair and damage occurs during a storm or high winds which wouldn’t have happened if the roof had been properly maintained, then the likelihood is that you would not be covered for this. You can also take some preventative measures, if it’s safe to do so of course, such as tying down garden furniture or any trampolines or play equipment, to prevent it from flying away and getting damaged or causing damage to garden fences etc.

“But above all this week, stay safe and watch the weather from a warm and secure place.”

Go.Compare home insurance has written a guide on what homeowners should do if they need to make a claim for storm or weather damage as well as some simple steps you can take to weather protect your house:  https://www.gocompare.com/home-insurance/weather-damage-and-home-insurance/.