The short answer
Home insurance often covers a leaking roof when a specific event such as a storm caused the damage, but commonly excludes leaks from wear and tear or poor maintenance. Damage inside the house, such as stained ceilings and ruined decoration, may be covered if the policy covers the cause. Read your policy wording and photograph everything before repairs begin.
The line insurers draw: sudden event or slow wear
Most buildings insurance policies are written to respond to events. A storm that strips tiles, a tree that lands on the roof, or a burst tank in the loft are events. A roof that has aged until the nails have rusted and water has found its way in is a condition, and policies commonly exclude general wear and tear, including damage from water getting in through a roof that has not been looked after.
That is why the same wet ceiling can be a valid claim for one household and a refusal for the next. The cause matters more than the symptom. A good roofer's report, written after looking at the roof, can describe what was found: lifted tiles with clean breaks and no rust point towards wind, while rusted fixings and brittle underlay point towards age.
Policy wording varies. Some policies cover accidental damage, some do not, and some set an excess that makes a small claim pointless. This page describes how things commonly work and is not advice on any particular policy.
What counts as a storm
Insurers often follow the Association of British Insurers in defining a storm, and that definition includes gusts of at least 55mph. If your area did not see winds at that level, a claim for wind damage can be harder to support. The ABI publishes consumer information at abi.org.uk if you want the wording itself.
A threshold is not always the end of the matter. One Financial Ombudsman Service case turned on local weather reports instead of a wind-speed figure. The ombudsman decided wind was the chief reason the tiles came off, and the wear-and-tear exclusion in that policy reached only accidental damage. The write-up is on the Financial Ombudsman Service site. A single decision is not a rule, and it guarantees nothing for your own claim, since each policy has its own wording.
Which? reported in November 2025, citing FCA figures, that only 32% of storm-related claims made in 2024 resulted in a payout. Treat a claim as something to prepare carefully, not something to assume.
What is usually covered inside the house
Buildings insurance normally covers the structure: roof, walls, ceilings and fixed fittings. Contents insurance covers movable belongings such as furniture and carpets. A leak through a covered cause can therefore lead to two claims, one for the plaster and decoration and one for what was damaged underneath.
If the cause is excluded, the damage inside is generally excluded too. A policy that will not pay for the failed flashing is unlikely to pay for the ceiling it ruined. Some policies include a contribution to temporary repairs, and some will pay for alternative accommodation if the house is unfit to live in. Look for these in the policy schedule.
Ask your insurer before you throw anything away. Keep damaged items or photographs of them, and do not rip out wet plaster until the insurer or loss adjuster has seen it, unless there is a safety risk.
Leaks that are not insured losses
Some leaks are not really roof failures at all. Condensation in a poorly ventilated loft can drip like a leak, and a plumbing fault such as a pinhole in a pipe can stain a ceiling in much the same way. Which policy section responds, if any, depends on the true cause, so it is worth establishing that before you pick up the phone.
Gradual seepage over months is another category many policies treat differently from a sudden burst. If a stain has been slowly growing, say so when you report it. Describing the timeline accurately is better than shaping it to fit the cover, and insurers can usually tell the difference.
Rented and leasehold homes add a further wrinkle, because the freeholder or landlord may insure the roof. If you live in a flat, check who holds the buildings policy before you spend anything. Our page on roof repairs in flats goes through who is responsible for what.
Preparing a claim that stands up
Start with evidence. Dated photographs of the damage from outside and inside, taken before anything moves, are the foundation. A note of the date and time of any storm helps match it to weather records. Keep receipts for emergency measures such as a tarpaulin or a bucket-and-towel clean-up.
Contact the insurer promptly, and ask what they need before work begins. Many want to see the damage or approve a repairer, and a repair carried out too early can prejudice a claim. Temporary protection to stop further damage is generally expected, and our page on making a roof safe covers that.
A roofer's written report with photographs of what was found is useful supporting evidence. We can describe what we see on your roof and photograph it. Dealing with the insurer stays with you, and we cannot say whether it will pay.
Maintenance, cost and the decision to claim
Insurers expect a sensible standard of upkeep. Clearing gutters, replacing slipped tiles quickly and having lead looked at after storms all count in your favour. Neglect can be used against a claim.
Consider the cost against the excess. Where a small repair costs less than the excess, a claim gains you nothing and could push up next year's premium. MyBuilder's 2026 guide gives typical UK ranges of about £100 to £300 for minor repairs and £500 to £1,500 for storm-damage fixes. Those are third-party national figures, and your own fixed quote follows our survey. See what it costs to fix a roof leak and roof repair cost for the factors involved.
If a claim is refused and you think it is wrong, you can ask the insurer to review it and then go to the Financial Ombudsman Service. And if the damage came from a slipped tile, our page on slipped tile repair explains the fix. The general repair service is described under roof repairs in Bath.
