Standard buildings insurance covers sudden and unforeseen events — storm damage, falling trees, accidental damage from an external source. For Inverness roofs, common successful claims involve ridge tiles displaced in a named storm, lead flashings ripped by high winds, or tiles displaced by a falling branch. The key word is sudden — the event must be an identifiable incident rather than gradual deterioration.
A storm displacing tiles from a roof that has been maintained is likely a valid claim. Six tiles displaced from a roof with widespread nail sickness — where tiles were not mechanically fixed and would eventually displace in any significant wind — may be partially or fully excluded under a pre-existing condition clause.
Gradual deterioration — nail sickness, lead oxidisation, mortar erosion — is universally excluded. This is not a policy gap; it is the correct distinction between insurance (protection against unforeseen events) and maintenance (management of predictable deterioration).
Flat roofs require particular attention. Many Highland home insurance policies have specific flat roof conditions — requiring the flat roof to be in "good repair" or limiting cover after a certain age. Check your policy schedule specifically for flat roof clauses.
Before any repair: photograph the damage from every angle. Date-stamp the photographs. Note the date, time and weather conditions. Do not dispose of fallen tiles or ridge pieces until the insurer confirms they do not need to attend. We provide a written damage report and photographic record as standard on all emergency call-outs — most Inverness insurers accept our reports directly as part of the claims process.
Written insurance damage report provided as standard. Available 24/7 across Inverness and Highland. Call 01463 262835.
Call 01463 262835Most home insurance policies have a separate storm excess — often £250–£500 in addition to the standard policy excess. For damage costing less than your combined excess to repair, self-funding is more economical. Ask your insurer for an off-the-record indication of renewal impact before deciding whether to claim.
An insurance claim for storm roof damage typically involves three parties: you (the policyholder), your insurer (who assesses the claim), and a roofing contractor (who makes the building safe and carries out permanent repair). Understanding the sequence in which these parties act is important for a smooth claim.
The correct sequence: call us first to make safe the building and prevent further damage or injury risk. Then call your insurer to notify them of the damage event. We provide a written damage report and photographs on the day of the make-safe visit — this is what your insurer's assessor or claims team needs to evaluate the claim. Do not carry out permanent repair before your insurer has confirmed they do not need to see the damage in its original state — most insurers confirm this during the initial notification call, and most are content with our photographic report rather than a site visit. We have managed the documentation side of hundreds of Inverness storm claims and can advise on the specific requirements of most major UK insurers from prior experience.
The most common reasons for partial or full rejection of Inverness roof insurance claims: evidence of pre-existing nail sickness or mortar failure on the tiles that displaced (indicating the damage was not caused by the storm alone); flat roof claims where the policy has a condition requiring the roof to be "regularly maintained" and it has not been; claims submitted more than 30 days after the event without good reason; and claims where no professional damage report is provided and the repair has already been completed before the insurer has confirmed acceptance. Avoiding the last two of these is straightforward — notify promptly and submit our written report before committing to permanent repair.
Most buildings insurance policies include a clause requiring the policyholder to maintain the property in reasonable condition and to take prompt action to address known defects. A property where roof maintenance has been demonstrably deferred — receipts show no maintenance for 10+ years, survey reports identify issues that the homeowner was aware of but did not address — may have its claim partially reduced on the grounds that the pre-existing condition contributed to the damage. This is a small but real risk. Keeping a simple record of maintenance work carried out — annual gutter clearance receipts, survey reports, repair invoices — provides evidence that the property has been reasonably maintained. We provide a written receipt for every maintenance visit as a matter of course.
"Emergency call-out report accepted by our insurer without challenge. Clear photographs and written assessment. Claim paid within two weeks."
"Photographed everything before make-safe as advised. Insurer confirmed they didn't need to attend — report and photographs were sufficient."
Whatever the roofing question, the right starting point is a professional survey carried out by a roofer who knows Highland conditions and the local housing stock. A survey costs nothing when combined with any roofing project, and £95–£150 as a standalone assessment. The written condition report that follows gives you a clear picture of the current state of your roof, what needs to happen and in what sequence, and what the costs will be.
We have been carrying out roof surveys, repairs and replacements across Inverness and Highland since 2003. NFRC registered. £5m public liability insurance. 10-year workmanship guarantee on all work. Free, no-obligation surveys across the full Highland area. Call 01463 262835 to arrange a visit, or use the contact form on our homepage. We aim to confirm survey appointments within one working day.
For a free survey across Inverness and all of Highland, call 01463 262835. We attend survey appointments within 3–5 working days for non-emergency work. Written quotes are provided within 24 hours of the survey visit. We carry NFRC registration, £5m public liability insurance, and offer a 10-year workmanship guarantee on all roofing work. No call-out fees, no obligation to proceed. If you have read this guide and have a specific question about your property, call us directly — we are happy to advise before you commit to any work.
Replacement due to wear and tear: not covered. Sudden storm damage causing localised failure: may be partially covered depending on policy terms and pre-existing condition.
A separate excess applying to storm claims — often £250–£500 on top of the standard policy excess. For small storm repairs, combined excess may exceed the repair cost.
Most insurers require evidence of damage and cause. A written roofer's report with photographs is the most effective documentation. We provide this on all emergency call-outs.
Potentially. Ask your insurer before claiming whether the specific claim would affect renewal. For claims below twice your excess, self-funding may be more economical over 3 years.
Many policies require flat roofs to be recovered every 10–15 years or limit cover above a certain age. Check your policy schedule specifically.
Call your insurer to notify them of the damage — most require notification within 30 days of the event. Report the date, the weather event, and the damage observed. Ask whether they will send an assessor. Provide our written damage report (included in all emergency call-out visits) as supporting documentation.
Emergency call-out costs may be covered if the emergency is caused by a sudden storm or accidental damage event. Gradual deterioration emergencies — a flat roof that has been slowly failing and finally leaks — are typically excluded. Keep your call-out documentation in case a claim is possible.
No call-out fee. Written assessment within 24 hours. No obligation quote before any work starts.
Written quote, itemised by scope and materials. The price we quote is the price you pay.
Written workmanship guarantee. Specified for Highland conditions — not southern UK average specification.
Based in Inverness. Our team surveys your Inverness property and does the work — no subcontractors.
No call-out fee. No obligation.
01463 262835