Homeowners urged to give their home a 'storm MOT'

2007 saw one of the worst weather events of the last 50 years in the UK, the Kyrill storm, which caused £350m of damage and caused 11 deaths.

Now, with the Met Office forecasting severe gales by Friday and storms for the weeks ahead, esure home insurance is urging homeowners to give their properties a 'storm MOT' now that the current mild period is deteriorating.

The greatest risks from storms arise from problems with falling trees, falling masonry and dislodged roof tiles - which can lead to water getting into the property, damage to nearby cars or even injuries to passers-by.

Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting for esure home insurance said: "It's not just the storms in the financial market that homeowners should be thinking about at the moment. With the weather seemingly breaking new records each year, we would urge every homeowner in the UK to take steps to prevent storm damage right now. It is not a question of 'if', it's a question of 'when'. Home insurance can help anyone who is hit with storm damage but prevention is always better than cure."

esure's top storm MOT priorities are:

1) Have loose or damaged roof tiles replaced or repaired while the weather is still mild. In England and Wales usually only every fourth roof tile is actually nailed down so if any become loose a strong wind can easily lift them into the air.

2) Check for loose or rotten tree branches. Falling branches can cause significant damage to people, cars and homes. If you are aware of any large branches that look unsafe get them seen to by a tree surgeon before they blow down. If one lands on your neighbour's property you could be liable.

3) Prop up leaning or loose masonry. Falling walls have caused a number of deaths in the UK in recent years during storms. Get a builder to check and correct the condition of any suspect brickwork or masonry, particularly if it borders an area where people walk.

4) Check for broken or blocked guttering and keep drains clear. Water can cause huge damage unless it is able to escape easily and quickly. If your guttering is blocked with debris or your drains are full of dead leaves, the water can easily spill over causing damage in other places.

5) Keep your garden clear, tidy and garden items secure. Light garden furniture, children's toys (particularly trampolines) or 'lean to' structures can be lifted up and catapulted by strong winds. Most policies don't cover them if they are damaged by a storm or wind, so remember that if there is anything in your garden that one person can lift off the ground, the wind can too! Store items in a strong, secure shed or in a place where you can secure them effectively.

6) Make sure that fence posts haven't rotted and secure any loose panels or slats. Although home insurance usually provides liability if your fence blew into someone, it won't cover storm damage to gates and fences. Hedges also tend to be excluded from standard cover, so remove any dead branches and lop off overgrown foliage.

esure also recommends that homeowners ensure they have a storm kit if storms or strong winds/rain are forecast. The kit should include a list of emergency numbers, a spare mobile phone battery, a first aid kit, gaffer tape for broken windows or emergency repairs and plenty of torches and batteries.