The short answer
It depends on the cause and your policy. Sudden damage, such as a storm lifting tiles, may be covered, along with the water damage inside that follows from it. Gradual wear, poor maintenance and an old, worn-out covering are commonly excluded. Tell your insurer first, make the roof safe, and keep photographs and receipts. Nobody can promise that a claim will be paid.
The same wet ceiling can be a covered claim or an excluded one. The difference lies in what caused the water to get in.
Sudden damage versus wear and tear
Home insurance is designed for events, not slow decline. A policy will often respond to damage from a storm, a fallen tree or another named cause. It will often not respond to a roof that has simply aged, a flashing that has worn out, or gutters that were left to clog. Insurers call that wear and tear or lack of maintenance, and policies commonly exclude it.
How is a storm defined?
Definitions vary between policies, so your own wording is what counts. The Financial Ombudsman Service treats a storm as violent wind with rain, hail or snow usually in tow, and it applies that idea when it reviews complaints. A single gale that strips tiles looks like a storm. A slow leak at a valley that has been dripping for months looks like wear.
Which? reports that only 32% of storm-related claims made in 2024 resulted in a payout, so it is wise not to count on the result. Our page on storm damage versus wear and tear covers the distinction in more depth, and the wider emergency roof repairs page links the other leak questions.
Does the policy cover the water inside?
A leaking roof causes two kinds of loss: damage to the roof itself, and damage to whatever the water reaches, such as ceilings, plaster, carpets and contents. Policies can treat the two differently. A policy might pay for wet plaster after a storm opening, yet refuse the roof covering because it was in poor condition.
Which words in the policy matter most?
Read the sections on storm, escape of water and accidental damage, then the list of exclusions. Hunt for the phrases wear and tear, gradual damage, maintenance and deterioration. Check the excess, the sum you pay on any claim, and whether there are conditions about keeping the property in good repair. Your policy documents or the insurer's website will have the full terms.
If anything is unclear, ask the insurer or a broker to explain it before you decide what to do next. Jot down the name of whoever you speak to and the date of the call, and ask them to confirm the key points by email. A written answer is worth more than a phone call, and you can produce it later if a dispute arises.
What to do first when a roof leaks
The sequence is simple. Tell your insurer first, so you know their requirements before you spend money. Make the property safe, using a temporary repair to stop further damage. Photograph the damage as you find it and again after any clearing up, and hold on to the receipts for what you spend.
Why do photographs matter so much?
IStructE calls photographs vital to a claim because they are visual proof of what happened, which is why insurers ask for them. Photograph the ceiling, the loft, the roof from the ground and any debris in the garden. A roofer's survey pictures of the roof itself can show where water got in and what condition the covering was in.
Which? reports that insurers run emergency helplines, so find the number in your policy documents. Hold back from agreeing a full repair until your insurer has replied, unless waiting would let more water in. If a surveyor is to visit, ask when, and keep the damaged materials until they have looked. Our page on temporary roof repairs explains what a make-safe can do while the claim is considered.
When a claim is turned down
A no from the insurer can be challenged. Request the reasons in writing and set them beside your policy wording. If you still disagree, a formal complaint to the insurer comes next, and after that the Financial Ombudsman Service, which is free to use.
What are the time limits on a complaint?
They are covered in detail in our answer on what to do when an insurer rejects a roof claim. Put simply, the clock starts when the insurer sends its final response, so keep that letter safe.
We are roofers, and a claim is a matter for you and your insurer. A roofer can add a clear account of the fault. Our survey shows you photographs of the damaged area, explains what failed and why, and sets out the repair as one written price, which gives you solid evidence of the work needed.
If the leak is active, send us photographs and stopping the water takes priority over everything else. The lasting repair can then be planned while the insurer deals with your claim, and nothing about the roof has to wait on the paperwork.
More on insurance and leaks
Is a leaking roof usually covered by home insurance?
Sometimes. Sudden damage such as a storm may be covered, while wear and tear and poor maintenance are commonly excluded. Your policy wording decides. Tell your insurer first, make the roof safe, keep photographs and receipts, and do not assume a claim will be paid.
Should I repair the roof before the insurer visits?
Make it safe, but keep proof first. A temporary repair that stops further water is usually sensible, as long as you photograph the damage beforehand and keep the receipts. Ask your insurer before agreeing to permanent work, unless waiting would let more water into the house.
The full picture: Emergency and general roof repairs in Taunton ยท More short answers