illustration of a house and garden

Storms cover: buildings and contents

| 02.08.2023

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY 'BUILDINGS'


When we use the word ‘buildings’, we mean the structure of your home, including any fixtures and fittings.
We also mean:

  • Garages and outbuildings, such as summer houses, sheds and greenhouses, as long as they are fully enclosed. Just to be clear, outbuildings doesn’t include structures that are designed to be open on any side, such as carports or gazebos.
  • Garden walls, gates and fences.
  • Paths, drives and patios.
  • Permanent swimming pools (made of brick, stone or concrete), fixed hot tubs and ornamental ponds.
  • Hard tennis courts.
  • Solar panels.


WHAT DO WE MEAN BY 'CONTENTS' ?


When we use the word ‘contents’, we mean any items that you or your family own or are responsible for, including Personal Belongings. Just to be clear, ‘contents’ does not mean:

  • Aircraft, gliders, hang gliders and microlights, or any of their parts or accessories.
  • Any motorised watercraft or sail boats, or any of their parts or accessories.
  • Animals, birds or fish.
  • Items held or used for business purposes (even if only occasional business use), except home office equipment that is used for administrative activities undertaken at your home.
  • Caravans, trailers and ‘motor vehicles’, or any of their parts or accessories, except motorbike clothing and helmets.
  • Interior decorations

When you're looking to make a claim, the first thing you'll want to check is what you are and aren't covered for.

We've listed the details below, but you can also download your home insurance policy document.

 

WHAT'S NOT COVERED?

image of what's not covered list of what's not covered

 

Buildings cover

 Storm   
What's covered?  What's not covered?
  • We’ll cover you for damage to your buildings caused by a storm.
  • By a storm, we mean strong winds of over 55mph or damage by extreme rain, snow or hail.
  • Rainfall is extreme if more than 25mm falls in an hour.
  • Snowfall is extreme if 30cm or more falls in a 24- hour period and hailstones are extreme if they exceed 20mm in diameter.
  • We won’t cover you for damage to gates and fences.
  • We also won’t cover damage to swimming pool and hot tub covers.
  • We won’t pay for rain or water damage to the inside of your buildings if the water gets into your home as a result of poor workmanship, bad design or wear and tear.
  • Finally, you can’t make a claim for damage caused by subsidence, ground heave or landslip under the storm part of the policy. These claims must be dealt with under the subsidence part of the policy and a higher excess would apply.

 


Contents cover

 Storm   
What's covered?  What's not covered?

  • We’ll cover you for damage to your contents caused by a storm. By a storm, we mean strong winds of over 55mph or damage by extreme rain, snow or hail.

  • Rainfall is extreme if more than 25mm falls in an hour.

  • Snowfall is extreme if 30cm or more falls in a 24-hour period and hailstones are extreme if they exceed 20mm in diameter.

  • We won’t pay for rain or water damage to your contents if the water gets into your home as a result of poor workmanship, bad design or wear and tear.

  • Finally, you can’t make a claim for damage caused by subsidence, ground heave or landslip under the storm part of the policy. These claims must be dealt with under the subsidence part of the policy and a higher excess would apply.

 

View your home insurance policy document