How to Claim on Home Insurance for Roof Damage

What Home Insurance Covers

Standard home buildings insurance covers sudden, unexpected damage caused by specific insured events — most commonly storm, flood, fire and impact. For roofing, the most common covered event is storm damage: tiles displaced by wind, ridges lifted, flat roofs torn or punctured by debris.

What home insurance does not cover is general wear and tear, gradual deterioration, or maintenance items. A roof that has been slowly deteriorating over 20 years is not an insured event even if it's leaking now.

Association of British Insurers guidance distinguishes between sudden insured events such as storm damage and gradual deterioration, which is excluded from standard buildings cover as a maintenance responsibility.Source: ABI

Step 1 — Document Everything Before Touching Anything

The moment you discover damage, photograph everything. Photograph the exterior damage from as many angles as possible. Photograph any internal damage — water staining, damaged ceilings, wet insulation. Note the date and conditions — check the Met Office records for confirmation that storm-level winds were recorded in your area on the date in question. This documentation is the foundation of your claim.

Step 2 — Notify Your Insurer Immediately

Call your insurer to notify them of the damage before authorising any repair work beyond emergency make-safe. Most policies require prompt notification and reserve the right to appoint their own assessor. Committing to full repair work before your insurer has assessed the damage can invalidate your claim.

Step 3 — Arrange Emergency Make-Safe Only

If the roof is actively leaking and causing ongoing damage inside the property, you're generally entitled to arrange emergency make-safe work — temporary tarpaulin, temporary patching, emergency boarding. This is distinct from full repair. Keep all receipts and invoices, as these costs are typically claimable.

Step 4 — Get a Professional Damage Report

Ask your roofer for a written inspection report that clearly distinguishes between damage caused by the insured event and any pre-existing conditions. Insurers may appoint a loss adjuster to assess the damage independently. Having your own professional report means you're not entirely dependent on the insurer's assessment.

Step 5 — Understand Your Excess and Policy Limits

Before proceeding, confirm your excess amount — for smaller repairs, the cost may not exceed your excess, making a claim counterproductive. Check your policy for any roof-specific conditions, particularly for flat roofs or roofs over a certain age, which sometimes have additional exclusions or conditions.

Common Reasons Claims Are Rejected

The most common reasons for claim rejection on roof damage are: damage pre-dating the insured event (pre-existing deterioration), failure to maintain the roof (allowing moss growth, blocked gutters or open pointing that contributed to the damage), commissioning repair work before insurer notification, and insufficient documentation of the damage.

Last reviewed: 19 July 2026