Published 20 March 2025
Is my roof covered under my home insurance?
Published 20 March 2025
Your roof covers you and your home, but is it covered by your home insurance if it suffers from leaks or storm damage? This often depends on what your roof is made out of and whether it’s flat, thatched, gable and so on. So, let’s check out what’s covered when it comes to your roof…
Does home insurance cover roof damage?
Generally, insurers cover damage to your roof caused by a storm. For example, if the storm causes damage to your roof such as tiles being blown off and causing a leak, this would generally be covered under your home insurance.
You could have a leak or two in your roof due to having one or two tiles missing, this is most likely due to general wear and tear of the roof. Wear and tear is not covered by your home insurance.
Does home insurance cover a thatched roof?
Thatched roofs are usually found in traditional English cottages. Whilst they look very pretty, they can be quite tricky and expensive to maintain. Here are some of the risks with owning a house with a thatched roof:
- Increased fire risk.
- Mold and mildew growth.
- Rodent infestation.
- Waterlogging which can make the roof unstable and increase the chance of collapse.
With these bigger risks, you may have to go find a specialist to insure your thatched roof. Most home insurers will either be unable to insure your thatched roof, or offer a hefty premium to cover it, so it’s best to find a specialist insurer who can offer you the right type of cover. At Allianz, we can't cover a thatched roof.
Does home insurance cover a flat roof?
Flat roofs due to their nature are much more likely to have issues with leaks as there’s a lack of drainage. Even if just a part of your roof construction is flat, this can lead to a decline from insurers.
Do you know the life span of your flat roof?
Recently, our very own Graham Wright, Managing Director, Allianz Home, spoke on the Insurance Post Podcast, revealing that when it comes to the lifespan of a flat roof, "much more than 15 years is unlikely, and 10 years is probably more common, depending on how well you maintain it”.
So, it's important to know how to maintain your roof, and what damage to look out for.
How can I maintain my roof?
There are plenty of relatively easy things you can do to help keep your roof clean and safe, which protects it from future wear and tear or damage. Always be cautious when undertaking any DIY task that you aren’t familiar with and seek professional help where needed.
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Keep your guttering clean
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Inspect your roof on a regular basis
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Check for overhanging branches
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If your house is thatched, check inside for dark wet patches
Especially in autumn months, your gutters can easily block up with debris from nearby trees which will lead to the roof being unable to drain properly. This can lead to leaks.
The earlier you can spot and solve an issue like a missing tile or two, the more likely it is that you’ll prevent leaks and further damage in the future.
During a storm branches could break off and cause serious damage to your roof.
These may be areas where your roof is leaking. Brush down the roof to remove any moss that might have started growing. This will also give your roof a fresher and newer look.
It’s really important to understand the risks of owning a property with a flat or thatched roof. General wear and tear issues aren’t usually covered by insurance and stay on top of your roof maintenance to avoid bigger issues further down the line.
