Are you covered for earthquake damage?

Many people in England and Wales were rudely awoken from their slumbers recently by the biggest earthquake to hit Britain in almost a quarter of a century. After the initial shock, many minds turned to the thorny question of whether or not their insurance would cover repairs, or whether an earthquake is one of these mysterious ‘Acts of God’, of which most of us only have a vague notion.

Fortunately for home owners it seems that the Act of God exclusion is an outmoded concept which is not a feature of a modern day policy. Earthquakes are now categorised, along with storms and floods, as an insured risk. Given that the smaller earthquake in Folkestone last year caused damage of some £15 million, the need for insurance has never been greater, as more and more freak weather and natural phenomena become a feature of our life. Sad to say, one in twenty homes are uninsured, meaning that many of us may be facing hefty bills for repairs.

Hints from the insurance industry for homeowners include:

• Inspect the damage and take photos of it.
• In an emergency you will normally be allowed to arrange repairs yourself since leaving damage can often increase the eventual bill. Have photos and receipts available in support of your claim.
• Bear in mind that you will probably be covered for alternative accommodation in cases of emergency.
• Keep an emergency kit with copies of important documents, a torch, radio with spare batteries, first aid kit and any essential medication.

Direct Line’s head of home insurance also advises that home owners make regular checks inside and out for any potential hazards which may cause damage at a later date in freak weather conditions.

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