Make sure your home insurance covers storm damage

Abbey says up to 620,000 home insurance claims are made every year for storm damage. The bank reckons the estimated cost of these claims is £324 million or on average £522 per claim.

Prasad Shastri, Head of Insurance Marketing for Abbey said, "In the last week we have seen storm and tornado weather across mainland Britain. Already we have seen a significant increase in storm related claims within the last month and this is expected to continue into 2007. Worryingly many people do not protect their homes properly despite the severe costs that storm damage can cause.

"We would advise all home owners not only to prepare their property, but also make sure that they are in a position to limit the costs of any damages that might occur by making sure their home is adequately insured."

Check your home is ready for winter:

* Check your roof for loose tiles. They may be potentially hazardous if they fall, and can cause more damage to the interior of the house if they come away.
* Check the outside of your building and secure anything that might potentially be damaged or may cause damage e.g. shutters, gates and loose drainpipes.
* Be aware of any trees surrounding the house, loose branches can cause damage to telephone lines and windows in high winds.
* Make sure you know how to switch off your gas, electricity and water if necessary.
* If you are expecting flooding, protect as many of your belongings as possible by moving them upstairs. If you can, use sandbags to prevent water coming into the home.

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