home insurance and roof

DON79

Hi, wondered if someone could advise whether our home insurance is likely to cover us in the event the roof is damaged in high winds or storms?

trouble is, the roof is in not such a great condition and will need replaced shortly which we can't afford to do (unless we get bank charges back!) so I wondered if the insurance company are likely to fob us with the excuse of "wear and tear".

Thanks, Donna

_Andy_

Storm damage is normally covered but if it's blatantly evident that you haven't kept it in good condition then it may well be excluded.
You need to refer to the T&Cs specific to your policy.

DON79

Thanks, it's kind of an inherited problem which we didn't realise was a problem until we got the fascia and guttering replaced. we have only owned the property two years and it was last winter when the person replacing the fascia etc said he thought the roof would be a problem. Then again, they may have been fishing for business.

FlameCloud

DON79 wrote: »

the roof is in not such a great condition and will need replaced shortly which we can't afford to do

DON79 wrote: »

so I wondered if the insurance company are likely to fob us with the excuse of "wear and tear".

Superb, you win post of the week!

You have said yourself that the roof is old and needs replacing, yet are worried about being told this by an insurance company? Things wear out, yours clearly has- and you havent got a home maintence contract.

Polices do cover storm damage, but there would actually have to be a storm to damage it. Even then, storms (bar large, normally national-level events) rarely take off entire roofs- far more common is a few tiles, which wont really help you.

If you cannot afford a house then you should rent.

DON79

FlameCloud wrote: »

Superb, you win post of the week!

You have said yourself that the roof is old and needs replacing, yet are worried about being told this by an insurance company? Things wear out, yours clearly has- and you havent got a home maintence contract.

Polices do cover storm damage, but there would actually have to be a storm to damage it. Even then, storms (bar large, normally national-level events) rarely take off entire roofs- far more common is a few tiles, which wont really help you.

If you cannot afford a house then you should rent.

First things first - don't have a go! FYI it was worn out before we bought the house, we just did not know it! read my post before having a go at me!

I am aware fully that there would need to be a storm to damage it. And FYI again, we had one last night which uprooted a tree at the end of my road.

And who are you to tell me If I can't afford a house then I should rent! At least I am up to date with mortgage payments and have never missed one. And if you knew even one of the reasons we are now in this mortgaged property, you would not want to go back to renting again either.

I know now I won't bother coming back to this board to post. There are other nicer people on other boards.

DON79

You know, I came on here to get a little bit of advice and help from people, and am actually interested in chatting too.

I did not deserve either sarcasm or lectures. That is a terrible attitude to people seeking some help.

blind-as-a-bat_2

FlameCloud wrote: »

Superb, you win post of the week!

You have said yourself that the roof is old and needs replacing, yet are worried about being told this by an insurance company? Things wear out, yours clearly has- and you havent got a home maintence contract.

Polices do cover storm damage, but there would actually have to be a storm to damage it. Even then, storms (bar large, normally national-level events) rarely take off entire roofs- far more common is a few tiles, which wont really help you.

If you cannot afford a house then you should rent.

Funny you give an opinion of structural integrity from a comment by someone who has no knowledge of structural engineering, therefore the comment
'not such a great condition and will need replaced shortly ' may or may not be factual with regards to how it may withstand a strong wind.

Your qualifications to comment are what?, and without seeing the roof how could you possibly justify that response

It may leak , but it does not mean it would not withstand a Gail force wind

Airwolf1

If you suddenly had high winds, and 2/3 tiles came off, and we came and carried out a survey on behalf of the insurance company, we would take note (and photographs) of the current condition of the whole roof, not just where the tiles came off, so if there were slipped/cracked tiles, mortar missing or cracked etc, this would be made evident in our report.

If we had to validate such a claim on site, and based on what you have said, we would say the roof was in a bad state of repair to begin with and so on, and would say it wasn't a valid claim.

Just offering my advice, based on what you have said and assumptions.

DON79

Thanks for that Airwolf, thats what I wanted to know. We fully intend to get the roof repaired, its just a case of saving up the money for materials and my husband and his brother have done roofing work so are able to do it. I just needed to know how the insurance company would be likely to view it in the event we did have to claim if anything happened to the roof. Thank you.

and you said it nicely! :T

Airwolf1

The other thing to look at is the underfelt. The amount of claims we look at where the underfelt is snagged or torn, or is just basically "withering away" is amazing. If a tile did crack, rain should travel on the underfelt into the gutter, but if the underfelt is ruined too, repair/replace this as well.

DON79

I am pretty sure the underfelt in our roof has had it! I think it falls into the withering away category! Can you by any chance give me any idea what the materials would cost? It is a 3 bed end of terrace we have. If you can't, don't worry, you have been a good help. Thanks.