Storm damage: How to insure your home

A storm can cause serious damage to a house, garden and neighboring property within minutes. But the insurance that pays depends on what was damaged and, in some cases, whether the homeowner was at fault.

Gabi Kreindl of the Association for Consumer Information and insurance broker Norbert Jagerhofer explain that damage to a roof or the outside of a building falls under home insurance. If water enters through a storm-damaged roof, or if a window breaks or garden furniture is destroyed, household insurance covers those losses.

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Damage to the roof and the exterior of the building is covered by home insurance. If water enters the house or apartment through the uncovered roof, a window breaks in the storm or garden furniture is destroyed, these damages are covered by household insurance.

A different rule applies when a roof tile blows onto a neighbor’s property and breaks a window. Liability insurance can cover the damage if negligence, such as inadequate maintenance, is involved. The relevant policy belongs to the owner of the roof from which the tile came. Storm damage is paid only up to the maximum coverage agreed in the policy.

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Sometimes storm damage is not included and must be added as an additional component to home or building insurance.

Storm coverage is not always included automatically. It may have to be added to a home or building insurance policy. Jagerhofer advises customers to check the details carefully. Solar panels, external blinds and awnings may require additional clauses, as may cleanup and disposal costs. If falling roof tiles damage a car, the owner’s comprehensive vehicle insurance covers it.

Meteorologists classify wind speeds of at least 75 kilometers per hour as a storm, while insurers may use gusts exceeding 60 kilometers per hour. GeoSphere Austria’s assessment is decisive. After damage occurs, policyholders must secure the site where necessary, limit further damage and arrange emergency roof cover quickly. They should report the loss without delay, photograph the damage and keep damaged items rather than discarding them immediately. Hail is generally covered under home insurance, but heavy rain, flooding, avalanches and earthquakes often receive only limited coverage or low payouts.

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The duty to mitigate damage is one of the policyholder’s obligations.