Does home insurance cover roof damage from wind? Smoke? What else?

Have you ever thought about what would happen if the next storm damaged the roof of your house? Or what it would be like if you had a small fire in the kitchen? This type of situation usually comes without a warning and its consequences cause a great deal of disturbance that, in some way, could be avoided. 

The key lies in home insurance and its coverage. When we live abroad and we settle in our new home, it is important to know that we are protected against certain risks. In this article you can see what types of accidents are covered by home insurance and which are the most frequent exceptions to that coverage.

How does home insurance work?

If you have never taken out this type of insurance before, you will be pleased to know that there are a series of basic items which are covered under almost all policies: damage caused by floods or by theft; or a service of home assistance such as handyman service (what in Spain is usually called "servicio manitas"). 

When taking out a home insurance policy, we will normally have to answer some questions with basic information related to our home and the people living in it: How many people live there, are they owners or tenants, and/or what kind of activities are carried out in this house on a day-to-day basis.

Depending on this and other similar information, the policy premium and, logically, the coverage will vary, according to your needs and wishes. In addition to the covers mentioned above, a home insurance policy could also protect us against electrical damage, high noise levels (noise pollution), or the theft of our bank cards.

Protect your home from weather hazards.

Climate change has arrived, and our homes are increasingly affected by serious weather hazards such as strong winds, heavy rain or snowfall. When taking out home insurance, it is reassuring not to have to worry about things like “Does home insurance cover roof damage from wind?”.

In this sense, Caser Home Insurance in Spain has an extensive cover for all these risks, as well as offering 24-hour customer service, in case of an emergency. To make things even easier, you can make all your queries in English.

What does home insurance cover?

If you decide to insure your home with Caser Home Insurance in Spain, you can feel safe from storms and torrential rains, snowstorms or winds of over 80 kilometres per hour. All these weather events can have damaging consequences for your home, i.e., broken windows or damage to the roof. By having your home properly insured, you won't have to worry about these types of damage, as they are covered. 

Furthermore, in the event of a fire in your home, repairs due to the damage caused by smoke will also be covered. Once the emergency has passed, the walls and surfaces of the home will show the damage suffered both in terms of colour and odour. Thanks to home insurance, you won't have to worry about repairing and refurbishing the walls of your home.

However, you should not forget that home insurance policies also have exceptions to their coverage. In other words, there are certain incidents that are not included in the coverage under the policy, so it is important that you take them into account. This way you will avoid unpleasant and unwanted surprises.

Below, we will see what these exceptions are.

What does my home insurance not cover?

When taking out Caser Home Insurance in Spain you have to take into account the existence of certain exclusions. Most of them are related to negligent behaviour. This means that damages resulting from lack of prevention are not covered. It is therefore important that, whether as owners or tenants, we take all necessary measures to avoid risky situations in our home.

You are probably thinking that we are talking about complex measures or measures that are not within your reach. However, we are referring to common sense actions, such as closing the windows properly when it is stormy or keeping the locks of our home in good condition.

Let's see, then, which are the exclusions that you should consider:

• Rust caused by rain. This type of damage is not covered by this insurance policy.

• Catastrophes and natural disasters that are covered by the “Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros”. This is a Spanish public entity which takes care of damages in extreme situations and natural catastrophes, such as earthquakes or large floods, but also of certain man-made catastrophes, such as terrorist attacks. In almost all private insurance policies, a small percentage contributes to this common fund, which will be used to respond to this type of eventuality.

• Damage to objects that are kept outdoors without any protection. 

• Damage due to frost or tidal waves.

• Finally, you should also note that damage to some specific items, such as solar panels or billboards, are not covered.

So, does home insurance cover roof damage from wind? The answer is yes, but with some exceptions, such as the ones we have specified. Also, when contracting your policy, remember that you have basic covers and, also, optional covers, depending on your needs. These optional covers are related to Civil Liability, Legal Defence, IT Assistance or your pets, to give some example. Having or not having these coverages can change your experience and your level of satisfaction with the insurance you have taken out. That is why I recommend that you analyse your needs carefully when choosing the coverages. 

As you can see, taking out home insurance offers you the peace of mind you need on a day-to-day basis, especially if you have to adapt to a new country or a new city. As always, having the right information about the coverage will be the first step in making the right decision. I hope this article has helped you, and as always, don't hesitate to write to us if you have any questions, or if you have any comments. See you next time!