UK flood risk - will home insurance cover you if your home is damaged by water?

Parts of the UK are set for more rain this week - but if your property is damaged by floods, will you be covered by your home insurance ?

There are four flood alerts currently in place in Worcestershire and Cornwall , while further into September, forecasters say more rain is expected in northern and western areas.

If you are concerned about flooding, it is advised you review your home insurance documents to check your cover. New research from Tesco Bank shows flooding claims average £18,354 for homeowners, while storm damage is among the five most common reasons for making a home insurance claim.

Most home insurance policies do include flood cover, but there can be exclusions, such as if you live in a high-risk flood area. It is important to read the wording of your policy carefully.

In some cases, you may be charged higher premiums or higher excesses if you live in a high-risk flood area.

Alex Cross, Chief Customer Officer at Tesco Insurance, said: "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."

If your home has been damaged, the first thing to do is make sure you and your family are safe. Then once it is safe to do so, contact your home insurance provider as soon as you can.

In terms of evidence for your claim, try and take photos and videos of the damage, to send to your insurance provider.

Buildings insurance should cover the structure of your home, including walls, roofs, floors. You would need contents insurance to replace any personal belongings, furniture and appliances.

Home insurance should include cover for alternative accommodation too, if your home is not safe to live in - but again, do check your policy to see exactly what it includes.

If you are struggling to get flood cover, you could try the Flood Re scheme, which is a joint industry and government initiative which helps find cover for high-risk properties.

However, Flood Re should not include properties built on or after January 1, 2009, commercial premises, and most rented or buy-to-let homes.