Does home insurance cover roof damage?

The roof is part of the structure, so it falls under buildings insurance. The Association of British Insurers lists the usual perils a home policy covers as fire, storm, flood, subsidence, burst pipes and water damage, theft and malicious damage (ABI, home insurance).

For a roof, that usually means tiles blown off by a storm, a chimney pot brought down by high winds, a tree falling onto the roof, and the water that then damages ceilings. Soaked carpets and furniture are a contents claim. Accidental damage is covered only on some policies.

Insurers pay for sudden damage, not for a roof wearing out. The ABI says home insurance is not a maintenance contract, and gives "roof tiles not being replaced and the roof leaks when there is a storm" as damage that isn't covered.

The Financial Ombudsman names gradual damage and wear and tear as common exclusions (Financial Ombudsman, storm damage). On a roof, that typically means perished felt, weathered pointing, tiles slipping from rusted nails, or a leak that has dripped for months.

One rule is in your favour: the insurer has to prove an exclusion applies, for example with an inspection report.

The ABI reports that storm damage to homes paid out 32% more in 2025 than in 2024 (ABI, February 2026). Many disputes are about whether the weather really caused the damage.

The Ombudsman says a storm usually involves violent winds, usually with rain, hail or snow; some policies set their own wind-speed or rainfall figures. When a refused storm claim reaches it, the Ombudsman asks three questions:

1. Was there a storm on the date the damage happened?
2. Is the damage consistent with what storms generally cause?
3. Was the storm the main cause, or would the damage have happened anyway?

The third is where old roofs fail: if the wind only finished off loose tiles, the insurer may call it wear and tear.

These steps follow the ABI's own storm advice (ABI, Storm Amy advice, October 2025). The aim is to stop the damage spreading and to keep a clear record of what happened, because the insurer, and the Ombudsman if you complain, will look at photos and reports. Don't wait for the insurer before making the house safe: a reasonable temporary repair is expected by insurers, and putting it off can make the damage worse.

Your insurer may send its own surveyor or loss adjuster, or ask you for a roofer's quote before the permanent repair. Ask them which they want before work starts, other than stopping the water.

If water is coming in, call me on 07306 077999 any time, day or night, with no call-out charge. On an emergency I do a quick fix to stop the water, then come back for the proper repair, with a free written quote for it.

I don't deal with insurers on your behalf: the claim stays between you and your insurer.

Ask the insurer to put the reason in writing and to name the exclusion it relies on. If you disagree, complain to the insurer first. If you don't get a final response within eight weeks, or you're unhappy with it, you can take it to the free Financial Ombudsman Service.

It helps to know which parts of the damage were the storm and which were wear: a claim can sometimes be accepted for part of the damage. Landlords: for most tenancies the roof is your repair, under section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.