STORM AUSTEN: Flood claims average more than £18,000 for homeowners

The Met Office is also warning of a risk of flooding in parts of Scotland. 

Latest figures from Tesco Insurance show flooding results in an average payout of £18,354 for homeowners, making it one of the most expensive types of home insurance claim. 

Storm damage is also among the ten most common reasons homeowners make a claim, accounting for 6.34% of all claims. 

Escape of water tops the list, accounting for more than a quarter (27.48%) of homeowner claims, followed by accidental loss (10.27%), underground pipe damage (7.79%), theft (6.88%) and storm damage (6.34%). 

The average homeowner insurance claim is worth £3,747, mainly due to the higher cost of repairing structural damage.

Fire results in the highest average payout for homeowners at £23,300, followed by flooding at £18,354. 

Alex Cross, Chief Customer Officer at Tesco Insurance, said: “Home insurance plays an important role in protecting people from unexpected events, but it doesn’t always cover every incident. As a result, some homeowners assume certain types of damage or belongings are protected as standard, when this isn’t always the case. 

“Most policies include limits and exclusions people should be aware of before taking out a policy, which is why taking the time to understand what your policy covers can help avoid unwelcome surprises, and ultimately ensure you have the right protection in place for your home.” 

Is flooding covered by home insurance?

Alex said: "Flood damage is not always covered as standard under home insurance and can often depend on exclusions such as where a property is located. In areas with a higher flooding risk, additional or specialist insurance might be required.  

"Some homeowners assume natural events are automatically covered, but this isn’t always the case. That’s why it is important to check what level of cover is included and whether additional protection is available." 

Top 10 home insurance claims for homeowners:

1. Escape of water – 27.48%

2. Accidental loss – 10.27%

3. Underground pipe damage – 7.79%

4. Theft – 6.88%

5. Storm – 6.34%

6. Subsidence – 5.01%

7. Window/ glass damage – 4.21%

8. Vehicle Impact – 3.50%

9. TV – 3.19%

10. Fire – 2.53%