Originally published after Storm Desmond in 2015, this article is a historical account. The old excess examples, response-time expectations and statements about what insurers will pay are not current policy guidance.
If your home has been flooded, put personal safety first. Follow advice from emergency services and local authorities. Do not enter an unsafe building or touch electrical equipment affected by water.
Five practical steps after flood damage
- Contact your home insurer promptly. Ask how to report the damage, what information it needs, and whether it wants to approve emergency work before it begins.
- Check your own policy. Flood cover, excesses, exclusions, alternative accommodation and replacement basis vary. Do not assume a particular expense will be reimbursed.
- Record the damage if it is safe. Photos, an inventory and receipts may help support the claim. Do not put yourself at risk to gather evidence.
- Discuss urgent repairs and accommodation. Ask your insurer what it will authorise and what evidence to keep. If immediate action is needed to prevent further damage, tell the insurer as soon as practical.
- Keep a record of the claim. Note conversations, decisions and the next steps the insurer gives you. A loss adjuster may be appointed for a complex claim, but timing cannot be promised.
This article is general information, not a determination that any particular flood loss is covered or an offer of home insurance from IM-Insured. The policy wording and the insurer’s claims decision govern the outcome.
