As the Environment Agency warns people to take care during the ongoing flooding, households have been advised to check their home insurance.
Significant river flooding is expected to continue today in parts of the Midlands, Lincolnshire and on the River Thames, due to the recent rain and storms.
The Environment Agency warned that parts of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire have seen increased river levels over the past 24 hours, with areas of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire also affected.
As of 17.30 yesterday (7 January) there were 167 flood warnings and 175 flood alerts in place across the UK.
How to make an insurance claim for flooding
Damage caused by floods and storms is covered by home insurance. If you have suffered storm damage, contact your insurer as soon as possible. Most will have 24-hour emergency helplines to ensure you get advice on what to do.
If necessary, arrange temporary emergency repairs to stop any damage getting worse, but speak to your insurer first. If you have to arrange emergency repairs yourself, tell your insurer and keep any receipts, as this will form part of your claim.
Don’t be in a rush to throw away damaged items, unless they are a danger to health, as these may be able to be repaired or restored.
Under most home insurance policies, if your home is uninhabitable while repairs are being carried out your insurer will arrange for, and pay the cost of, any alternative temporary accommodation you may need.
Louise Clark, ABI general insurance policy adviser, said: “Insurers expect bad weather to strike at any time and events such as this are exactly what your insurance is for.
“Their priority right now is to help any affected customers recover as quickly as possible. If you have been affected by flooding, contact your insurer as soon as you can and they will be able to offer help and advice.”
When you make a home insurance claim, a loss adjuster will be appointed to assess the claim. You should expect to hear from your loss adjuster after contacting your insurer and they will get in touch if they need to arrange a visit to your home.
Your loss adjuster will organise the cleaning and stripping out of your home. This work should start within four weeks. Your insurer or loss adjuster will also appoint a drying company to disinfect and dry out your home, if necessary. This can take from a few weeks to several months.
Repair work should begin shortly after you get your drying certificate from the drying company. Your loss adjuster will appoint a builder to do the repair and reconstruction work and will keep you updated on expected timeframes.
Your insurer or loss adjuster will then discuss with you when you can return home. Depending on how badly damaged your home is, this can be between a few weeks and a year or more after the flood.
