Winter has definitely arrived in Luxembourg with the return of the snow!

Snowflakes, snowmen and sleighs rub shoulders with snow tyres, snowploughs and traffic jams... The white coat makes some people happy and others unhappy!
But what a pleasure to be able to warm up at home after an afternoon of snowy leisure activities or after braving slippery roads!

Of course, you don't want to spoil your fun because of roof damage caused by the weight of snow!

So now is the time to check if your home is well insured 😉

The snow is falling... and so is my roof!

In addition to water damage caused by seepage, snow can also cause other damage to your home: a roof that collapses under the weight of the snow, a gutter that leaks...

Whatever the damage, it will only be covered if it is stipulated in your home insurance policy.

In most cases, there is a "storm" guarantee, which covers material damage caused directly by wind or an overturned body, hail, the weight of snow or ice accumulated on roofs and also, the impact of hail on buildings.

Of course, each insurance contract will indicate limits and conditions for compensation. This information will enable you to check to what extent you can be compensated.

You should, however, be aware of certain exclusion clauses. For example, the insurance will not cover damage related to the vulnerability of certain buildings or property (e.g. buildings not fully enclosed and covered, outbuildings made of light materials, outdoor objects) or to a lack of repair and maintenance of your property.

Some damage can therefore be avoided, for example by properly insulating outdoor pipes (which tend to burst when temperatures rise) or by insulating unheated areas such as the cellar or garage.

There is damage... what do I do?

As soon as you notice snow damage, you should contact your insurer.
Depending on the source, the period varies from 72 hours to a maximum of 5 days. You should therefore check what your insurance contract stipulates.

To make a claim for compensation, you need to draw up a list of the lost or damaged property with figures. You should also prepare a precise description of the damage, support it with photos and do not forget to provide proof that the property belongs to you.

Also remember to take the necessary steps to ensure that the situation does not get worse!
For example, if tiles on your roof are in danger of falling off, try to fix them temporarily.
Because if no temporary solutions are found, your insurer could blame you and your compensation would be lower than expected!

The final step in the compensation process is that an expert may be called to visit the site to assess the damage and put a figure on it.
Therefore, do not hesitate to keep the damaged objects to be able to present them to him if necessary.

Once the costing has been carried out, your insurer will tell you how much compensation you can expect.
It will be paid to you as soon as you agree on the amount.
If you wish to contest the proposed compensation, your insurance company will have to examine your claim in order to decide whether the amount of compensation should be revised.