Storm damage to a conservatory is generally covered under a standard home insurance policy, but how quickly and smoothly a claim goes depends heavily on what you do — and don’t do — in the first few hours and days.

Storm damage is generally covered as standard

The Association of British Insurers (ABI), the trade body representing UK insurers, confirms that damage caused by storms and flooding is covered by most standard home insurance and commercial business policies. This means a conservatory roof torn or cracked by wind, or damage from a fallen branch during a storm, is the kind of event standard cover is specifically designed to respond to — it isn’t generally something requiring specialist add-on cover, unlike some other risks.

Contact your insurer first, before arranging repairs yourself

ABI guidance is direct that the first step after storm damage is to contact your insurer as soon as possible, who will guide you on next steps, clean-up, and the information needed to progress the claim. Where the damage genuinely needs urgent, emergency repair — for example to stop water getting into the rest of the house through a damaged conservatory roof — the ABI advises speaking to your insurer first if at all possible, and if you do need to act before reaching them, to keep every receipt, since this becomes part of the claim.

Don’t throw away damaged items before they’re assessed

ABI guidance specifically advises against rushing to dispose of damaged items unless they pose a danger to health, because items that look ruined may still be repairable or restorable, and a loss adjuster or insurer will generally want to see, or be told about, the actual damage rather than working from a description alone. For a damaged conservatory specifically, this can mean leaving broken glazing panels, damaged furniture or a cracked roof panel in place (where it’s safe to do so) until the insurer has confirmed what they need documented.

What happens once a claim is open: the loss adjuster’s role

ABI guidance explains that a loss adjuster is typically appointed to assess the claim, carrying out an initial assessment of the damage, explaining the repair process, and setting out the options for alternative accommodation if needed. If a conservatory forms part of a home that’s otherwise uninhabitable during repairs, ABI guidance confirms the insurer will arrange and pay for temporary accommodation in line with the policy — though for a self-contained conservatory that doesn’t affect the habitability of the rest of the house, this specific provision is less likely to be relevant.

What standard storm cover generally doesn’t extend to

Storm and weather damage cover is generally about sudden, identifiable events — a specific storm causing specific damage — rather than gradual deterioration. A conservatory roof that’s been slowly failing due to age, wear or a lack of maintenance, rather than a single identifiable storm event, is a different kind of claim, and insurers commonly distinguish between the two when assessing what’s covered. Keeping basic maintenance up to date, and being able to point to a specific storm date and event if you do need to claim, both support a cleaner claims process.

FAQs

Do I need to report storm damage immediately, or can it wait?

Contacting your insurer as soon as possible is the ABI’s own advice — delaying can complicate a claim, particularly if further damage occurs in the meantime or if there’s any question about exactly when the damage happened.

Will my premium automatically go up after a storm damage claim?

It can, since a claims history is one of the factors insurers weigh when calculating premiums, though a single weather-related claim is generally treated differently from claims linked to an ongoing risk — checking with your specific insurer is the only way to know how it will affect your renewal.

Does it matter if the conservatory was added after the policy started?

Yes — insurers generally need to be told about significant additions like a conservatory so the buildings sum insured and cover reflect the property as it now stands; an unreported conservatory could complicate a claim relating to it.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 18 September 2026:

• Association of British Insurers: Insurance advice for those affected by Storm Bert

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Compare Conservatories is an independent guide. We may earn a fee from some links; this never affects what we write. This article is general information, not legal or planning advice on any specific property — always confirm requirements directly with your local planning authority.