14th June 2012
ABI issues flooding advice to homeowners
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has issued flooding advice to homeowners across the UK.
It has called on residents to contact their home insurance provider as soon as possible if they are affected by any flood damage. From there, the company can give guidance on how people can arrange fast repairs.
In certain circumstances, temporary emergency work will need to be carried out on properties in order to prevent any damage from worsening and the ABI has recommended that, in these cases, such work should form part of an insurance claim.
An incident as severe as flooding could cause residents to act instinctively and throw away belongings that they believe cannot be restored, but the group has warned against this.
It emphasised that there is a chance that possessions can be restored unless they put the health of homeowners in danger.
Many properties in the UK could be at risk of flooding in the coming days and weeks, particularly those in Devon and Cornwall, where a warning of heavy rain has been issued by the Met Office.
It has forecast gales and heavy showers for tomorrow (June 15th).
The ABI has also offered tips regarding how residents can prepare for imminent bad weather. Large items that could cause damage during strong winds should be secured to a fixed structure, for example.
As well as this, it recommended that emergency contact numbers for the local authority, utility companies and the home's insurer should be stored in a safe place that is waterproof.
Aidan Kerr, head of property at the ABI, said: "Insurers know how traumatic and disruptive flooding can be and their priority will be to work quickly to help affected customers. Many insurers will be operating 24-hour claims lines and drawing in extra staff to man these lines."
Mr Kerr underlined that residents should contact their insurer as soon as possible in the event of a flood in order to get claims moving at a faster rate.
Posted by David Leonard
Did you know that UIA offers competitive rates on house insurance? Our new introductory offer is available between May 1st and September 24th 2012 - 30% off all UIAHouse Insurance prices. You can take advantage of 5% off combined home and contents insurance with interest free direct debit. Apply online today!
back to news