Roof Insurance Claims Derby | Free Drone Survey

We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When you call, someone answers. With over 20 years of experience as qualified roofing contractors right here in Derbyshire, we know exactly what insurers look for — and how to document damage in a way that supports a successful claim.

👉 Call us now on 01332-529704 or complete our online form for a FREE drone survey and no-obligation inspection

Homeowners across Derby contact us after storm damage with the same urgent question:
will my insurance pay for this?

Buildings insurance covers the structure of your home — and that includes the roof. Whether your claim is approved depends on
what caused the damage and whether your policy lists that event as a covered peril.

• Storm damage — high winds, heavy rain, hail, and fallen trees
• Fire and lightning strike
• Vandalism or malicious damage
• Accidental impact from a vehicle or falling object
• Fallen debris — chimney pots, branches, or objects carried by wind
• Water ingress following a covered event — such as tiles blown off in a storm

• Gradual wear and tear
• Neglect or lack of maintenance
• Pre-existing damage not declared when you took out your policy
• DIY repairs carried out to a poor standard
• Gradual deterioration of flat roof felt or membranes
• Moss or lichen damage caused by years of neglect

Derbyshire’s older housing stock — Victorian terraces, clay-tiled roofs, and stone properties — faces particular challenges. Freeze-thaw cycles through winter and strong seasonal winds make roof tile damage common across the county. Your insurer will focus on whether the damage was sudden and unexpected, or developed over time.

One thing many homeowners overlook: if a covered roof leak damages your belongings, your contents insurance may cover those items separately.
Always check both policies when damage occurs.

After storm damage, the hours immediately after matter.
Delaying your report to the insurer, or starting permanent repairs before the adjuster has inspected, can reduce or void your payout.

Here is how the process works:

1. Stay safe — assess from the ground. Never climb onto a damaged roof. Use binoculars, or call us. We carry out
   FREE drone surveys that safely document every area of damage in detail.
2. Photograph and video everything. Capture the roof, water ingress inside, damp patches, and any damage to ceilings or belongings.
   Date-stamp every image.
3. Arrange emergency temporary repairs if water is getting in. Temporary measures — such as tarping damaged sections — prevent further damage. Keep all receipts.
   Many policies reimburse these emergency costs.
4. Contact your insurer the same day. Most UK policies require prompt notification. Note your claim number and
   ask for the adjuster’s direct contact details.
5. Book a professional roof inspection with Derby Roofers. We carry out a full inspection and produce a written damage report.
   This is your most important piece of evidence and can significantly improve your claim outcome.
6. Get written repair quotes. We provide a detailed, insurer-ready quote. Your insurer may ask for two or three estimates.
7. Have your roofer present at the adjuster visit. Ask us to attend when the adjuster inspects your roof. We can point out damage the adjuster might miss and
   answer technical questions on the spot — an advantage most Derby homeowners don’t take up.
8. Submit all documentation together. Photos, our written inspection report, your maintenance history, and repair quotes should be submitted as a complete pack.

⚠️ Important: Most UK insurers require you to report damage within a set timeframe —
often 30 days from discovery. Check your policy wording and do not delay.

After a storm hits a property in Derby, many homeowners assume the damage is clearly covered. But insurers look very closely at the cause before approving any payout.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) defines storm conditions as typically involving gusts of at least
55mph, rainfall of at least
25mm per hour, or hail intense enough to damage hard surfaces.
Derbyshire regularly records gusts above this threshold during named autumn and winter storms — and local Met Office weather data for the date of the event can support your claim directly.

• Whether a
  qualifying weather event occurred near your property on the date of the damage
• Whether the
  damage pattern is consistent with storm impact — not gradual decay
• The
  condition of the roof before the event — tiles, lead flashing, ridge pointing, and gutters
• Any signs of
  pre-existing problems that could give the insurer grounds to reduce or refuse the payout

A professional roofer’s written report identifying storm as the primary cause of damage is your strongest piece of evidence. If we carry out your inspection, we document findings clearly, using the correct technical language insurers and adjusters expect.

Note on pre-existing damage: If your roof had visible problems — slipping slates, cracked mortar, or known leaks — before the storm, your insurer may argue those issues contributed to the outcome.
This is exactly why regular maintenance records matter so much.

Many roof insurance claims in Derby are not rejected because of the storm.
They are rejected because of the roof’s condition before the storm arrived.

Insurers expect homeowners to take reasonable care of their property. If your roof shows clear signs of neglect, your insurer can argue the damage was preventable. At that point,
even genuine storm damage may not be fully paid.

• Missing or broken tiles left unrepaired for months
• Blocked gutters causing water to back up and penetrate the roof
• Failed lead flashing around chimneys or dormers
• Moss or lichen build-up on older clay tile roofs
• Known leaks that were reported but never professionally repaired
• Flat roof felt that has not been inspected or maintained within the last few years

In areas like Spondon, Chaddesden, and Normanton, many homes have clay tile roofs dating back several decades. Insurers look more carefully at older roofs —
a roof over 15 to 20 years old will face closer scrutiny, and the absence of a maintenance record can be used against you.

The good news: a documented history of inspections and professional repairs is strong protection. It shows the insurer that the damage was sudden and unexpected — not the result of years of neglect.

Our recommendation: Book an annual roof inspection with Derby Roofers. We use drone surveys and direct access inspection, and we provide
written reports you can keep on file — ready to support any future claim.

A rejected claim is not necessarily the end.
Most rejections can be challenged — but you need to act in the right order and gather the right evidence.

If your insurer refuses to pay for roof damage in Derby, follow these steps:

1. Ask for a written explanation. Your insurer must state the reason and the evidence they relied on. This is your starting point.
2. Request a copy of the adjuster’s report. You are entitled to see it.
   Check it for errors, assumptions, or gaps.
3. Commission an independent professional inspection. Derby Roofers can produce a separate written report that identifies the cause of damage and challenges incorrect findings.
4. Gather supporting evidence. Local Met Office data for the date of the storm, your maintenance records, and previous inspection reports all strengthen your case.
5. File a formal complaint with your insurer. Insurers are legally required to respond to formal complaints within
   8 weeks.
6. Escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). If you are not satisfied with the insurer’s final response, you have
   6 months to take your case to the FOS. The FOS examines whether storm conditions occurred near your property, whether the damage matches storm impact, and whether the storm — not wear and tear — was the main cause.

What the FOS expects from insurers: They cannot reject a claim based on assumptions alone. They must provide inspection reports, photographs, or expert assessments to support their decision.
If they cannot produce this evidence, the FOS will weigh your documentation against theirs.

For high-value or complex cases, a public loss assessor can act on your behalf throughout the appeals process. They work directly for you — not the insurer.

• Leaseholders: Check your lease carefully. In most cases, the freeholder or management company holds the buildings insurance and is responsible for the roof.
  You contribute to this through your service charge. Contact the freeholder or managing agent first.
• Shared ownership: The housing association typically holds the buildings insurance.
  Contact them in writing and keep copies of all correspondence.
• Freeholders: You hold the buildings insurance and are fully responsible for the roof. You deal directly with your insurer through the standard claims process.

In all cases: document the damage immediately, report it to the responsible party in writing, and keep a copy of everything sent and received.

• ✅
  Replace damaged or missing tiles promptly — a single slipped slate, left for months, can allow water into the roof structure and give an insurer grounds to question your maintenance history.
• ✅
  Check lead flashing around chimneys and dormers — flashing is often one of the first elements to fail on older Derbyshire properties.
• ✅
  Keep written records of all roofing work — dates, the name of the contractor, and what was done. Even dated photos taken on your mobile phone are useful evidence.
• ✅
  Tell your insurer about significant changes — solar panel installation, roof lights, loft conversions, or flat roof membrane replacements should be declared. Undeclared structural changes can affect your cover.
• ✅
  Ask about accidental damage cover —
  not all standard policies include this. It can cover events like accidentally stepping through a flat roof during maintenance, or equipment dropped during a DIY project.

Note: If roofing work affects more than
25% of your roof area, building regulations may require notification to Derby City Council. Our team can advise you during any inspection visit.

Derby Roofers proudly serves homeowners and businesses throughout Derby city and the wider Derbyshire area. Our local teams cover:

Derby City Areas:

Surrounding Derbyshire Towns & Villages:

• Aerial photographs of every roof plane and elevation, date- and location-stamped for your insurer’s file
• Close-up images of the damage itself - displaced or missing tiles, cracked ridge and hip tiles, torn or lifted felt, damaged flashing around chimneys and valleys
• Ground-level or, where the angle needs it, tower and powered-access photographs of areas a drone can’t get a clear shot of, such as under overhangs or tight valley gutters
• A written report describing the damage, its likely cause, and a recommended repair scope, formatted for submission to your insurer or loss adjuster
• Measurements and a repair scope suitable for supporting a like-for-like reinstatement claim rather than a general estimate
• A copy of the report and photographs kept on file for you, whether or not you go ahead with a claim

• The repair or emergency tarping work itself, which is quoted separately once a claim is agreed
• Attending the loss adjuster’s site visit on your behalf - we can join you if asked, but it isn’t automatic
• Interior or structural surveys of ceilings, timbers, or damp - these are referred to the relevant specialist rather than covered in the roof report
• Claims for wear-and-tear rather than storm or accidental damage, since most policies exclude this regardless of how the report is written

1. You get in touch: By phone or through the contact page, tell us the address, what happened (storm date, fallen branch, etc.), and whether you’ve already reported it to your insurer or have a claim reference.
2. Free drone survey is booked: Arranged around your availability and the weather, since drone photography needs calm conditions to get usable images of every roof plane.
3. Close-up check where the drone can’t see enough: For flashing, ridge pointing, or steep pitches that need a physical look rather than an aerial one, our PASMA-trained team sets up a tower, or our IPAF-trained team uses powered access, to get eyes on the detail safely.
4. Written report is produced: Photographs and findings are written up into a report describing the damage, probable cause, and recommended repair scope, in a format insurers are used to receiving.
5. You submit the claim: The report is yours to send to your insurer directly, or we can talk you through what it says first if you’re not sure how to present it.
6. Repair quote and work, once the claim is agreed: If you decide to proceed, whether the claim is accepted in full or you’re covering part of it yourself, we quote the repair separately based on the same site visit.

Storm damage doesn’t wait — and neither should you. The sooner you get a professional inspection and a written damage report, the stronger your insurance claim will be.

At Derby Roofers, we have supported homeowners across Derby, Derbyshire and the surrounding areas for over 20 years. We know which evidence insurers look for, we know how to document damage correctly, and we know how to be the roofing partner you need throughout the claims process.

Here is what you get when you call us:

Don’t let a rejected claim or a missed deadline cost you thousands.

📞 Call Derby Roofers now on 01332-529704 📧 Email: [email protected] 🌐 Or use our online contact form at derbyroofers.co.uk/contact-derby-roofers

We serve Derby and the whole of Derbyshire — from Allestree and Mickleover to Long Eaton, Belper, Ripley, Matlock and beyond. Call today and let us help you get your roof — and your claim — back on track.

• ✅ FREE drone survey — safe, detailed, and date-stamped
• ✅ Professional written damage report for your insurer
• ✅ Detailed repair quote that meets insurer requirements
• ✅ Roofer attendance at your adjuster visit — at your request
• ✅ 24-hour availability — we answer the phone
• ✅ Over 20 years of experience across all roof types and materials
• ✅ All materials BBA approved — 10-year guarantee on our work