Home insurance and storm damage: how the 55mph storm damage definition could affect you

Households are braced for damage to their homes and gardens amid the latest storm to hit the UK.

This could cause yet another rise in home insurance claims and payouts but there is a storm definition that insurers can use to reject claims – the 55mph rule.

It comes as the Met Office has issued weather warnings for northwestern parts as Storm Éowyn batters the UK.

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Gusts of more than 90mph have been recorded in Northern Ireland and exposed locations of Wales. It is the fifth major storm since October 2024.

The extreme weather is expected to cause travel delays and many households will rely on home insurance to cover any damage caused by a storm.

Data from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) showed claims for damage to homes from storms, heavy rain and frozen pipes reached £136 million in the third quarter of 2024, the sixth consecutive quarter that weather-related claims have been above £100 million.

Most insurance policies will cover storm damage on a property, as long as the structure such as the roof and walls have been kept in good condition.

There are some areas of damage that won’t be covered and much will depend on the policy wording.

For example, some insurers will cover storm damage to a fence but others may exclude weather-related incidents or you may need to pay extra. However, you may not get any protection at all if the winds where you live aren’t deemed powerful enough.

This is because a storm is only technically declared when there are wind speeds with gusts of at least 48 knots or 55mph where you live.

The Financial Ombudsman Service said it sees a range of complaints following storm damage including what a storm actually is and the cause of the damage.

What is the 55mph rule?

Insurers follow a set definition of a storm based on the minimum wind speeds that could cause damage to a well-maintained property.

Otherwise, they would risk paying out for even the most minor bits of damage and other policyholders would suffer from higher premiums.

A storm is defined as wind speeds with gusts of at least 48 knots - 55mph.

It could also be torrential rainfall at a rate of at least 25mm per hour or snow to a depth of at least one foot in 24 hours.

Other definitions include hail of such intensity that it causes damage to hard surfaces or breaks glass and winds of the equivalent to Storm Force 10 on the Beaufort Scale. 

This can cause issues though as winds won’t hit all parts of the UK at the same speed at the same time.

An insurer will check the wind speed for your area and may reject a claim if its data shows the wind speed where you lived was below the 55mph definition.

Do insurers payout for storm damage?

Insurers still have a track record of paying out for storm damage.

Companies paid out an estimated £560 million to help customers following Storms Babet, Ciaran and Debi in 2023.

Payouts for the first three quarters of 2024 hit a record £4.1 billion.

Jonathan Fong, manager of general insurance policy at the ABI, said: “As the first named storm of 2025 approaches, many homes and businesses across the country will be braced for potential disruption and damage.

“But we’d like to reassure people that insurers expect bad weather to strike at any time and are geared up to deal with events like this. Their priority will be to help affected customers recover as quickly as possible.”

Fong suggests households should store and secure any items in the garden that can easily be blown away to help limit damage, adding: “If flooding is expected, assemble a flood kit and move any valuables or sentimental items upstairs. If you do suffer damage to your property or vehicle, contact your insurer as soon as you can for help and advice.”

There have been cases though where insurers have refused to payout as the wind speed wasn’t deemed to be strong enough.

Read your policy's terms and conditions to ensure that the level of cover meets your needs and you can speak to your insurer if you have any questions.

You can ask your insurer to send a surveyor to assess the damage or can file a complaint if you are unhappy.

Your insurer needs to respond within eight weeks.

If the issue isn’t resolved, you can also take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

A spokesperson said: “Storms can wreak havoc on your property, and it can be overwhelming to deal with the damage caused. During these difficult times, we expect insurers to treat consumers fairly and settle claims without unnecessary delays.

‘If a consumer feels unhappy with the service provided by their insurer, they should firstly raise an official complaint with the firm about the issue. If it hasn’t been resolved to their satisfaction or they don't feel they've been treated fairly, they should contact our free, independent service and we'll see if we can help. Getting a fair answer is free and easy.”