Does Buildings Insurance Cover Roof Repairs?

The short answer

Buildings insurance often covers roof repairs, but only in certain circumstances. The key distinction insurers draw is between sudden, accidental damage and damage that has built up gradually over time. A storm that rips tiles off your roof overnight is the sort of thing a policy is designed for. A roof that has slowly worn out over thirty years is not, because that is considered the homeowner’s responsibility to maintain.

Understanding where that line sits before you make a claim will save you a lot of frustration and gives you the best chance of a successful outcome.

When buildings insurance usually covers roof damage

Most standard buildings policies will consider claims for roof damage caused by a one-off insured event, such as:

• Storm damage – high winds lifting or removing tiles, or driving rain getting in after a storm (most insurers define a storm by wind speed or rainfall intensity).
• Fallen trees or branches striking the roof.
• Impact damage – for example from a vehicle or falling debris.
• Fire, lightning or explosion.
• Weight of snow causing structural damage in some policies.

In these cases the insurer is typically covering the cost of putting the roof back to the condition it was in before the event.

What is usually excluded

This is where most claims fall down. Insurers will generally not pay for:

• Wear and tear – coverings, felt and mortar that have simply aged.
• Gradual damage – a slow leak that has been getting worse over months or years.
• Lack of maintenance – damage that a reasonable homeowner should have spotted and dealt with, such as blocked gutters or loose ridge tiles.
• Pre-existing defects or poor previous workmanship.
• Damp and condensation caused by ventilation issues rather than a single event.

Insurers may also argue that storm damage was only possible because the roof was already in poor condition, so keeping on top of routine maintenance protects your ability to claim later.

How to make a successful claim

If you believe you have a valid claim, a methodical approach makes a real difference:

• Act promptly. Report the damage to your insurer as soon as it happens, and carry out any temporary measures needed to prevent further damage (keep the receipts).
• Document everything. Take clear photographs of the damage from the ground and, where it is safe, from closer up. Note the date and the weather conditions.
• Get a professional survey. A written report from a qualified roofer describing the cause and extent of the damage carries far more weight than your own description, and helps establish that the damage was sudden rather than gradual.
• Keep records. Hold on to any past maintenance receipts that show the roof was being looked after.
• Do not rush a permanent repair before the insurer has assessed the claim, unless it is genuinely an emergency to make the property safe.

How we can help

We work alongside homeowners and insurers regularly. Our insurance work and roof surveys service provides the photographs and written reports loss adjusters look for, set out clearly so there is no ambiguity about what happened. Once a claim is agreed, our roof repairs team carries out the work to a high standard, backed by our 3-year guarantee. If a storm has caught your roof or you are unsure whether your damage is claimable, we are happy to take a look and give you an honest assessment before you contact your insurer.

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