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• Cold weather and home insurance Extreme weather conditions such as snow often lead to an increase in incidents resulting in eventual insurance claims, such as burst pipes, flood damage, and broken boilers. However, it is erroneous to suggest that any problems caused directly or indirectly by the onset of the British winter will be covered by the terms of your insurance policy. Although you should always consult your policy documents as to the exact terms of your cover in the event of a circumstance resulting from the cold weather, here is a rough guide to what you should be able to expect from your insurance provider in such a situation. When water pipes freeze, they run a high risk of being cracked by the expansion of the liquid water into ice, leading to leakage when the ice thaws. Ordinarily, you could expect your home insurance cover provider to pay for any repairs should this happen to you, although you should read the small print of your policy documents before you make any claim. Similarly, if any of your assets become water damaged by a leak of this type, you should expect your contents insurance provider to cover the cost of the necessary replacements. However, your water tank counts as part of the building structure itself, so if this should burst in the cold, it is the responsibility of your buildings insurance provider to pay for any necessary repairs. If your property should suffer cold weather damage while you are away for a period longer than 30 days, you will have to have informed your insurer beforehand and have come to an arrangement with them regarding the insurance of the empty property, or you may not be covered by buildings or contents insurance. The havoc that is wreaked on properties by the extreme cold weather is usually covered by most buildings insurance under the terms of the ‘storm’ provision, although if the damage was caused by a pre-existing flaw with your property, such as a leaky roof, you may not turn out to be covered, as it is your responsibility as a homeowner to keep your property wind and water tight. However, what qualifies as pre-existing damage in a claims dispute of this kind is far from clear, as the responsibility may lie with the factor of the building you are staying in, or the construction company that built your home. This is why it’s important to keep any receipts pertaining to work done on your property by tradesmen. There can sometimes be a bit of confusion when making insurance claims, especially if there is a third party implicated in the dispute, so it pays to have some legal knowledge on your side. Some insurance firms offer a free legal advice and even cover some of the legal costs incurred by the customer in the case of a dispute. Many companies offer a discount for buying online. Kwik Fit insurance, for example, offer a 15% discount on the total bill when you purchase a home insurance policy from their website.

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