People living in flood risk areas should check policy details

Commenting on severe weather warnings and heavy rain continuing to affect parts of the UK, Julie Owens, head of home insurance at moneysupermarket.com, said: "People have been affected by a weekend of storms and gales and the saturated ground will mean any more rain could cause flooding in England, Scotland and Wales. Unfortunately this sort of event serves as a reminder to those living in flood risk areas to make sure they are prepared for these eventualities and making sure they are fully insured is paramount.

"People living in ‘at risk' areas should check the details of what their buildings and contents policies cover, as well as the limits and excesses on both. It pays to make sure that the quality of your insurance is high and you won't be left out of pocket if you have to make a claim.

"Insurers have significantly improved their handling of flood cases and rating sophistication; for example providers would still provide cover for a customer if they had made a flood claim at a previous address. If a customer has made a flood claim at their current address and needs insurance, the typical advice is still to check if there is a better deal available but remaining with your current insurer is likely to be the best option.

"If you are unfortunate enough to be flooded, you may need to claim on both your contents and buildings policies. Those at risk from the flooding should take expensive portable items upstairs or somewhere else dry. And with risk of winds gusting up to 50mph in the coming days*, it is also important to make sure any items in your garden don't cause damage to your house and windows, or neighbouring houses. Your insurer will expect you to make attempts to minimise your claim.

"People should also consider their vehicles too; while home insurance is essential to guard your property, motor insurance should also be an important consideration for any flood risk to your car."