THIS week's storms, hard on the heels of the winter's first floods in parts of Scotland, have been a timely reminder of the value of home insurance.
With extreme weather becoming increasingly commonplace, insurance cover can prove invaluable. However, these conditions are also pushing up the cost of home insurance.
Winter weather is the chief cause of home insurance claims and they have risen by 200% over the past three years, according to one insurance company. The most common damage during the winter season is caused by the wind, but last year it was the freezing conditions that caused most of the problems.
The country was gripped by the coldest winter on record between October 2010 and February 2011 and as a result 10% of Scottish householders suffered damage to their property, according to research by Churchill Insurance. More than four out of 10 (42%) suffered roof damage, while 21% experienced water damage as a result of frozen and burst pipes, 11% suffered an interruption to their power supply and 12% saw their external walls damaged.
As a result of the surge in claims due to bad weather conditions in recent years, the cost of a typical home buildings policy has increased to its highest ever level, according to the latest AA British Insurance Premium Index. Over the past 12 months, the average cost of buildings cover has risen from £133.16 per annum to £152.18.
Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance, says: "We've gone through two severe winters that caused widespread property damage in the UK. Insurers are also concerned about more frequent severe weather events such as flash floods, often in places with no flooding history; wind damage and even damage from extreme hailstorms and lightning strikes."
One recent industry report suggests that claims for storm damage have jumped by 68% over the past year.
Insurers are concerned that this year homeowners may have been lulled into a sense of false security by the unseasonably high temperatures in October and November, and have failed to make preparations for the winter for this reason. This appears to be confirmed by the Churchill Insurance survey which found that over a third (34%) of householders in Scotland haven't taken measures to prepare their home for winter weather this year.
A lack of basic maintenance can mean that a household insurance claim is invalidated. As a result of this and the fact that some people have no policy in place, it is estimated that around 30% of householders will not be covered for damage to their homes this winter.
No properties are immune to freeze damage, according to an analysis by Hiscox home insurance which found that a property's age had minimal bearing on the extent of damage. Although problems in older houses are mainly due to antiquated heating systems and poor lagging, in newer homes over-insulation sometimes led to pipes in roof spaces being frozen.
If you have to make a claim it is likely to push your future premiums up and make it more difficult for you to shop around for a cheaper policy.
Something else worth doing before the weather gets worse is to check whether your insurance policy includes a helpline number which can provide you with contact details of tradesmen who can be called out in emergencies.
The AA's Home Emergency Response Service has pointed out that homeowners can face large call-out bills if they are not careful. People suffering roof damage face the steepest charges, with an average call-out of over £96 across the UK, and hourly rates of £40 to £45. Electricians are the second most expensive for call-out charges.
If your insurance policy doesn't provide a helpline, the AA's Home Emergency Response Service can be purchased independently starting at £6.99 a month. It provides a network of home assist engineers, supported by approved tradesman, on a 24-hour basis.
If you are flooded, insurers advise contacting your home insurer as soon as possible. Temporary emergency repairs can be arranged to stop the damage getting any worse but insurers should be informed.
Damaged items should be kept as they may be able to be repaired and the insurer may want to inspect them anyway.
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