Homeowners are being urged to check their home insurance covers damage caused by extreme weather following this summer’s heatwaves.

Research from Uinsure, provided to Cumberland Building Society, reveals 60 per cent of policyholders do not know if their policy covers extreme-heat damage, such as subsidence, cracked walls or damaged pipes and guttering.

The Cumberland is hoping that by working with Uinsure’s advisers, homeowners will give more thought to weather risks as part of its simplified home insurance procedure.

Meanwhile, storms, which risk becoming increasingly intense due to climate change, already cause damage that accounts for 17.2 per cent of home insurance claims.

Storm damage is one of three categories that make up three-quarters of claims – the other two being accidental damage at 31.6 per cent and escape of water at 26.6 per cent.

The average sum paid out for all claims is £5,193, but the average payout for damage caused by fire is far higher at £48,832.

Research also found that 33 per cent of homeowners avoid switching their insurer at renewal time because they want to avoid the hassle of setting up a new policy.

To counter that, as well as offering home insurance that protects against extreme heat and storm damage, its cover is easy to set up with minimal questions asked.


Cumberland Mortgage and Protection Adviser Rachel Tate said: “The risk of damage caused by extreme weather is something homeowners should consider.

“Arranging insurance with us is a really straightforward process where we do everything for the customer, from getting a quote to putting the policy in place.”

The Cumberland offers home insurance in partnership with leading broker Uinsure, and policies are underwritten by Uinsure’s panel of insurers that are all 5 Star Defaqto rated.

Each customer’s cover is provided by the underwriter that offers the best price. Then, after a year, the panel of insurers competes again to provide a winning renewal quote.

To simplify the process, frustrating questions about factors such as door locks and roof size have been stripped out. Policies can be arranged at one of the Cumberland’s 31 branches, by phone consultation or online.

Rachel said having an adviser arrange insurance means customers avoid the temptation to rush through the often-complex and lengthy quote process when buying cover via a comparison website.

“People can just click through the questions without really thinking on a website in order to get a quote,” she said.
“For others, home insurance can be an afterthought. But your home is one of your biggest financial commitments, so you need to look at the bigger picture and make sure you’re properly protected. Our advisers will ensure that happens.

“And if you buy a policy through us, you have one adviser as a point of reference. Customers prefer to ask the questions and our staff provide answers.”

Innovative features of Cumberland policies include ‘trace and access’ protection of up to £1 million against damage caused when tradespeople need to investigate the root of a problem, such as removing a kitchen floor to trace an electrical fault or water leak.

Buildings policies provide £1 million worth of cover as standard and short-term alternative accommodation if damage renders a property uninhabitable.

Contents cover offers a minimum £75,000 of protection for possessions, which can be increased to £100,000.
More information can be found at cumberland.co.uk/insurance