Insurers paid record £585m for weather damage in 2024

Insurers paid out a record £585m in 2024 for weather-related damage to people's homes and possessions, according to data from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) cited by Which?¹. The first half of 2025 has already seen £322m paid out for damage caused by storms, heavy rainfall and frozen pipes¹.

The figure was reported alongside warnings of further severe weather. Storm Bram, named by Ireland's Met Eireann, was expected to arrive on 9 December, with an amber weather warning issued for north-west Scotland where gusts of up to 90mph were expected, and yellow warnings for west Wales, south-west England and Northern Ireland¹. Which? also noted that Storm Amy caused widespread disruption to transport when it hit the UK on 4 October 2025, with roads blocked, trains cancelled and flights delayed¹.

Which? set out what standard cover typically includes. Buildings insurance should cover damage caused by hail, wind, rain, snow or ice, including broken roofs, frozen pipes, falling trees and loss of power, and flood cover is a standard part of buildings insurance, widely available even in areas deemed to be of high flood risk¹. Insurers will generally pay for cleaning up and repairing a property, as well as temporary accommodation if a home has been made uninhabitable, and contents insurance covers possessions¹.

Exclusions were also reported. Many insurers will not cover damage caused by groundwater flooding, and some policies exclude damage to certain parts of a property such as outbuildings or fences¹. Accidental damage cover, needed for some wear-and-tear-related claims, is included in some policies but more often sold as an optional extra¹.

On motor cover, most comprehensive policies should cover the cost of repairing or replacing vehicles damaged by bad weather, while drivers with basic third-party or third-party, fire and theft policies are unlikely to be offered any protection¹. Cover usually includes damage to upholstery and the vehicle's entertainment system, but the insurer may not pay out for personal possessions left in the vehicle¹. Insurers may not pay out if they feel steps were not taken to keep the car safe, such as driving recklessly in a snow storm or deliberately driving through flood water, and driving during a red weather alert could invalidate a policy if the insurer decides travel advice was not followed¹.

On travel, UK trips longer than a couple of nights and further than 25 miles are covered by most travel insurance policies, but disruption must have been caused by an event outside the policyholder's control which they were not aware of when booking¹. Some providers include travel disruption cover automatically, while others charge extra for it¹.

Why it matters for households

The £585m paid in 2024 is the highest annual figure reported for weather-related damage to homes and possessions, and the £322m paid in the first half of 2025 covers storms, heavy rainfall and frozen pipes¹. For households affected by storms or flooding, the practical question is which policy responds: buildings insurance for the structure, contents insurance for possessions, comprehensive motor cover for vehicles, and travel policies for disruption¹. Where damage stems from wear and tear rather than a sudden event, a standard policy may not respond and accidental damage cover may be needed instead¹. Groundwater flooding and damage to outbuildings or fences are common exclusions¹. Which? advises contacting a provider as soon as possible, as insurers can make emergency payments, arrange temporary accommodation and organise repairs, and most have 24-hour emergency helplines¹. It adds that emergency repairs arranged independently should be reported to the insurer with receipts kept, and that damaged items should not be thrown away unless they are a danger to health, as they may be repairable or restorable¹.

What happens next

Storm Bram was expected to arrive on 9 December, with an amber warning for north-west Scotland and yellow warnings for west Wales, south-west England and Northern Ireland, and heavy rain with a risk of flooding in some areas of England and Wales¹. No further ABI payout figures for 2025 beyond the first half have been reported¹.