THE RECENT gales were a timely reminder of the importance of keeping property well maintained, to minimise problems when the worst of the winter weather hits.

According to insurer Policy Expert, one in ten UK adults has made a claim for storm damage involving roofs, fences, outbuildings or for burst or damaged pipes.

But if the provider decides the customer contributed to the issue by taking insufficient care of their buildings or belongings, it can refuse to pay out, leaving them with a typical repair bill of more than £900.

Lloyds Bank received around 3,000 storm-related claims in the first half of this year and it expects many more in the wake of last month’s events.

Tim Downes, the bank’s senior claims manager for home insurance, said: “Winter may be the last thing many people want to think about after the nation has basked in a long, hot summer.

“However, taking some time out now to inspect your home and carry out some essential maintenance can save unnecessary hassle and expense further down the line.

“Finding reputable tradespeople to carry out checks for you is also a good idea. They will have the skills, knowledge and experience to do a thorough examination of your property.”

Look around the outside of your house to see if anything needs fixed. Make sure gutters are secure and free of debris and that drains are clear, and that external pipes, taps and hoses are turned off, drained and insulated to prevent freezing.

Inspect the roof, inside and out, keeping an eye out for damaged, slipped or missing tiles as well as cracks and other gaps water could seep through. Get these repaired right way to avoid bigger problems later.

If you have a chimney, ensure flashings are firmly attached, and have the interior checked and swept by a member of the National Association of Chimney Sweeps.

See that the walls, roofs and windows of garages, sheds and other outbuildings are in good repair, and schedule work such as repainting window frames to protect them from the elements.

Make sure garden fences and walls are sound, and cut back branches hanging close to buildings.

Outdoor furniture, bikes and items such as bins, trampolines and plant pots should be stored in a shed or garage, tied down or moved to a sheltered part of the garden away from the house.

Do not be tempted to carry out anything other than minor repairs and maintenance yourself unless you are qualified to do so.

According to GoCompare Home Insurance, only 16 per cent of buildings policies include accidental damage as standard, so if anything goes wrong, your insurer could reject the claim, leaving you to foot the bill.

Consumers’ organisation Which? Says that 78% of the tradespeople in its Trusted Traders scheme have been called out to rectify botched DIY jobs.

Review your buildings policy to see what is and is not included and check the level of cover provided. If you have more than you need, you are likely to be overpaying, but if you have too little, this could cause problems in the future.

Many home policies do not cover plants and landscaping, and the remainder often have low limits. The contents of sheds, garages and other outbuildings can cost thousands to replace and are frequently under-protected too.

If you make even a relatively small claim and your insurer decides you do not have sufficient cover for all your buildings and their contents, it is likely to reduce the payout proportionately and could turn you down altogether.

To ensure this does not happen, it is worth taking the time to draw up an inventory of everything in the garden, garage and any other outbuildings that requires cover and add up the total value.

Check the rebuild cost of your house using the Association of British Insurers’ calculator at abi.bcis.co.uk. If you need more cover, inform your provider immediately.

If you are not happy with what it offers or the policy cost, shop around for an alternative at renewal time using price-comparison sites.

Do not decide purely on the basis of price, though. If you do have to claim, you want to deal with a company that has a good customer service record.

Which? rates providers on the basis of policy contents, dealing with queries and reports from its members. It puts NFU Mutual at the top of its recommended providers list, with a customer satisfaction score of 78%.

Other high scorers include John Lewis (72%), Age UK and RIAS (both 71%), Nationwide (70%), Tesco (69%) and LV (68%).