Storm Damage Roof Insurance Claims Derby | Free Drone Survey

What your insurer will
not cover is gradual wear and tear, neglect, or damage that built up over time. If a tile was already loose before the storm, your insurer may argue the damage is pre-existing. This is exactly why having a professional roofing contractor carry out a written inspection — before your loss adjuster visits — can make such a big difference to the outcome of your claim.

If you are unsure whether your roof damage qualifies, call us on 01332-529704. We can carry out a free drone roof survey across Derby and give you an honest assessment before you contact your insurer.

Derby and Derbyshire regularly experience named storms between October and March. Storms such as Eunice, Ciarán, and Éowyn have all caused significant roof damage across the East Midlands in recent years. After any major weather event, Met Office records for the DE postcode area can confirm whether conditions met the ABI threshold — and we can help you obtain and present that evidence to support your claim.

If your insurer disputes whether a storm occurred, you have the right to refer the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). Having weather data and a professional roofer’s report significantly strengthens your position.

• Blocked, cracked, or pulled-away gutters from wind-blown debris
• Visible daylight through the roof timbers when you look up from inside the loft

Properties in older areas of Derby — including Victorian and Edwardian terraces in Normanton, Peartree, and Pear Tree Road, and post-war semis in Spondon, Chaddesden, and Alvaston — are particularly prone to tile and flashing damage in storms. The original clay and slate materials used on many of these homes are more vulnerable to wind uplift than modern concrete tiles.

If you cannot safely assess the roof yourself, our free drone roof survey gives you high-resolution images of your roof from above — without anyone having to climb a ladder. These images are date-stamped and carry real evidential weight when submitted with an insurance claim.

This is the section that can save your claim. The single biggest reason Derby homeowners have storm damage claims rejected is not lack of genuine damage — it is lack of evidence. Insurers need to see proof that the damage was caused by a specific storm event, not gradual deterioration.

Here is how to build a strong evidence file before the loss adjuster arrives:

Take timestamped photographs from the ground, inside the loft, and from any safe vantage point as soon as it is safe to do so after the storm. Capture wide shots showing the overall roof and close-ups showing specific damage. Do not clear up or dispose of broken tiles — keep them as physical evidence.

A written damage report from a qualified roofing contractor is one of the most powerful pieces of evidence you can submit. The report should state the cause of the damage and confirm it is consistent with storm conditions. Importantly, a professional roofer’s report typically carries more weight with insurers than comments made by a loss adjuster who is not a qualified roofer.

We provide written inspection reports for insurance claims across Derby and the surrounding DE postcode area.

Request Met Office weather data for the storm date in your area. You can check recorded wind speeds, rainfall intensity, and whether any storm warnings were issued for the Derby / Derbyshire area on the date of the damage. This is the type of evidence insurers check when verifying claims.

If you have had an emergency tarpaulin fitted or carried out any temporary work to stop water getting in, keep every receipt. Most UK building insurance policies reimburse the cost of emergency repairs, provided they were reasonable and you notify your insurer promptly.

3. Waiting too long to report the damage. Most policies require you to notify your insurer promptly after discovering damage. Delays raise questions about the cause and timing of the damage.

4. Letting the adjuster inspect alone. Loss adjusters work for the insurance company. Having one of our team on site during the adjuster visit means damage to underlays, felt, flashings, and ridge details does not get missed or dismissed as pre-existing.

5. Accepting the first decision without question. If your claim is rejected, you have the right to appeal. A second independent roofer’s report, additional weather data, and a formal letter of challenge can all support a successful appeal. If you remain unhappy with the outcome, you can refer your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service within six months of the insurer’s final response.

Knowing what to expect at each stage means you can stay in control of the process and avoid being caught out.

Here is a clear overview of how an insurance roof claim works in Derby:

1. You discover the damage and photograph it immediately
2. You call us for a same-day roof inspection and written damage report
3. You notify your insurer and submit your photos, our report, and weather records
4. The insurer logs your claim and may send a loss adjuster to assess the damage
5. We attend the adjuster visit on your behalf and walk through the damage in detail
6. The insurer approves the scope of repair work to be carried out
7. We complete the approved repairs using materials that match your existing roof
8. The insurer pays us directly or reimburses you, depending on your policy

If your claim is rejected at step 6, we can support your appeal with a second detailed report and any additional evidence that was not submitted the first time around.

• Keep every receipt — these costs are reimbursed as part of the main claim
• Notify your insurer before starting any permanent repair work

We carry out emergency roof repairs across Derby city centre and all surrounding areas. If your roof is exposed after a storm, call us first on 01332-529704, then call your insurer.

We are experienced working with all major UK insurers and can provide detailed written quotes in the format most insurers require. We also attend loss adjuster visits and can liaise directly with your insurer throughout the repair process.

Call us today on 01332-529704 or complete our contact form at derbyroofers.co.uk/contact-derby-roofers and we will get back to you the same day.

Your roof protects everything underneath it. Let us protect your claim.

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:

• Free drone roof survey covering steep pitches and high-level sections not visible from the ground
• Written damage report naming the specific tiles, flashing, ridge, or valley sections affected
• Attendance at your loss adjuster’s site visit to talk through the report directly
• Temporary emergency work, such as tarping or securing loose tiles, to stop water ingress before the claim is settled
• A second report and additional evidence to support a formal appeal if a claim is rejected or under-settled
• Matching approved repair work to the scope your insurer has signed off

• Repairs your insurer decides fall outside the approved claim scope, priced and charged separately
• Your policy excess, which is set by your own insurance policy, not by us
• Decorating or replacing water-damaged contents and interior fittings
• A guarantee that the claim will be approved, which remains the insurer’s decision
• Drone surveys for cosmetic or wear-related damage unrelated to a storm event
• Negotiating or changing the terms of your insurance policy itself

1. Call and initial triage: You describe what’s happened and when. If there’s active water ingress we prioritise getting someone out under our 24-hour emergency call-out rather than waiting for a scheduled survey slot.
2. Temporary emergency repair: Where the roof is letting water in, we carry out temporary work such as tarping or securing loose tiles to limit further damage before the claim is even logged, and keep the receipt for your insurer.
3. Drone survey and photographic evidence: We survey the roof by drone, reaching steep pitches and high-level sections that aren’t visible from the ground, and photograph every area of damage.
4. Written damage report: We put together a report naming the specific tiles, flashing, ridge, or valley sections affected and setting out how the damage matches a specific weather event, referencing the ABI’s storm definition where relevant.
5. Loss adjuster liaison: We can attend the loss adjuster’s visit with you and talk through the report directly, so the technical detail isn’t lost between you and your insurer.
6. Approved repair, or appeal support: Once your insurer approves the claim, we carry out the repair to the agreed scope. If the claim is rejected or under-settled, we prepare a second report and additional evidence for a formal appeal, including to the Financial Ombudsman if it comes to that.

The longer storm damage is left, the more it tends to spread, and the harder it gets to tie what you’re seeing back to the original weather event once time has passed. It’s worth having the roof surveyed and the report in hand before your insurer’s visit rather than after. Call to arrange a free drone survey and get the paperwork started.