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Our cover

FLAT ROOF INSURANCE

Quick to buy online

  • Up to 100% of roof area can be flat.
  • Underwritten by AXA Insurance.
  • Cover for all ages of flat roof.
Emma Myrie

Written by

Emma Myrie

Insurance Underwriting Expert

Libby Goodsearles

Reviewed by

Libby Goodsearles

Head of Marketing

Less than 1 minute

Updated: 7 Mar 2024

INSURANCE FOR FLAT ROOFS

what is a flat roof?

A flat roof is a roof with a slightly sloped surface of 10 degrees or less. A flat roof must:

  • Be fully waterproofed with drainpipes and guttering to ensure proper water drainage. The waterproofing should extend up adjacent walls by at least six inches.
  • Have a thermal layer of fibreglass, polystyrene or other insulating material inserted above the roof decking. ‘Warm’ roofs require a robust vapour control layer (VCL). ‘Cold roofs’ must include adequate ventilation.
  • Be constructed to resist wind forces and be protected from sun damage.

WHY IS IT HARD TO INSURE A FLAT ROOF?

A roof that is entirely flat may suffer from pooling of water in wet weather causing damp and leaks that lead to water damage in the property. And, in some cases, flat roofs can put you at a greater risk of burglary as it is easier for thieves to gain entry to your home by standing on the roof to access windows.

This is why many home insurance providers won’t cover flat roofs and you need to get a quote for flat roof insurance from a specialist like us.

GET FLAT ROOF COVER ONLINE

Usually, if under 30% of your roof is flat then you should be able to source cover without any real issues. Even so, getting home insurance for flat roofs doesn’t need to be difficult. Homeprotect can provide flat roof home insurance online.

Having a few facts to hand will make getting a quote that much quicker:

  • Approximate percentage of the roof that is flat: 34-50% vs 51-75% vs 76-100%..
  • The material with which the flat roof is covered.
  • The year that the flat roof was last inspected.
  • Rebuild cost of the property.
  • Approximate year that the property was built.
  • Property history, such as flooding, structural movement, subsidence and underpinning.

MAINTAINING A FLAT ROOF

Regular maintenance is the key with a flat roof. Start by making your own regular spot checks, especially after a period of wet weather, to catch problems before they set in and then call in a flat roof expert every few years.

Some providers of flat roof house insurance require proof of regular inspections to demonstrate that the roof has been kept in a good state of repair, so remember to ask for documentation. You could need this if you make a claim for water damage.

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What’s covered by BUILDINGS & contents insurance?

Home insurance provides financial protection if you need to repair your home or replace your belongings after they’ve been stolen, damaged or destroyed.

It comes in two parts: buildings insurance (cover against damage to the property itself) and contents insurance (for damaged or stolen items within the home). These can be combined or bought separately, so the first step is deciding which option is better for you.

What we offer

Quick home emergency response times

Have a home emergency, such as electricity failure, faulty locks or vermin infestation? With the 24/7 Home Emergency cover, which we provide as standard, you can typically get an engineer at your home within four hours. And if you’re worried about an uncontrollable leak in your home, we aim to have an emergency plumber to you within two hours.

Extreme weather conditions may extend response time. Policy terms and claim limits apply.

5 star rated buildings cover

Our building insurance has been given the highest rating by independent financial research companies, Defaqto and Moneyfacts.

Repair guarantee

Any buildings work we undertake is guaranteed for 24 months following a claim and any contents repair work we undertake is guaranteed for 12 months.

New for old

Where we replace an item, we will do our best to meet the original specification on a ‘new for old’ basis. If we can’t find an exact replacement, we’ll offer you a suitable alternative, or a full cash settlement.

Legal advice

We provide Legal Protection cover as standard, giving you access to telephone legal advice on any personal legal issue, under the laws of the UK, any European Union country, the Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Switzerland and Norway.

What isn’t included?

Damage cause gradually, or by wear and tear, or by failure to fix a known issue.

Faulty design or poor workmanship.

Damage caused by pets.

The cost of repairing or replacing items following a mechanical or electrical fault.

Lost items.

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buildings & Contents Insurance Cover Levels

Our home insurance is designed to protect your home against insured events such as fire, storm, flood, escape of water, theft, malicious damage, subsidence, landslip or heave.

Buildings cover

Covers the main structure of your home if you need to rebuild or repair it.

up to £1 million

(eligibility criteria applies)

Contents cover

Covering the value of all your possessions in the home, on a new for old basis.

from £25,000

Alternative accommodation

For you and your pets, in case you can’t live at your home while it’s being repaired after an insured event.

up to £85,000

Home emergency

Covers emergencies that occur in your home like uncontrollable water leaks, electricity failure, faulty locks and vermin infestation. Two levels of cover are available.

up to £500

Family legal protection

Provides a 24/7 legal advice helpline and up to £25,000 cover for claims involving contract disputes and property damage. For a claim to be successful, there must be reasonable prospects (more than a 50% chance) of winning the legal case. Two levels of cover are available.

up to £25,000

Trace and access

Covers the cost of detecting the source of a water or oil leak and repairing any damage caused in the process.

up to £10,000

Outbuildings cover

Covers rebuild or repair of your outbuildings (such as detached garages, greenhouses, sheds and summerhouses).

from £20,000

Liability cover

Liability cover involving accidental death, bodily injury or illness or property damage that you are legally liable to pay.

up to £5 million

Personal possessions

Cover for portable items that you take out of your home, like bags, clothes and sports equipment

Optional

Gadgets, bikes and valuables away from the home

Cover for electronic gadgets (e.g. mobile phones, laptops, tablets etc), bikes (including electrically assisted bikes) and valuables (e.g. watches and jewellery) that you take out of your home.

Optional

Accidental damage

Covers situations when unexpected accidents happen, such as spillages on the carpet, breakages around the house or drilling through hidden pipes. Two levels of cover are available.

Optional

New Customer?

If you’re deciding on whether to buy home insurance with us, you can use our latest policy booklets as a guide.

Existing Customer?

Your Questions Answered

It’s important that you tell your home insurance provider that you have a new extension and that the roof is flat as it may affect the cover available under your policy. The Homeprotect policy will cover you for flat roof damage and any resulting damage to the room and belongings housed beneath the flat roof, just as long as you have told us about the flat roof, and that it is regularly checked and maintained.

It is recommended to get your flat roof inspected by a professional every 5 years. You can have the survey carried out by a qualified builder, roofer or surveyor. You will need to provide documented proof of the inspection and any repair works in the event of a claim.

Flat roofs have a tendency to leak. This is particularly the case when flat roofs are not laid correctly or when they have been neglected for some time. Regular maintenance of flat roofs is often a condition of your insurance policy.

If you have recently purchased a property with a flat roof then you should be able to find out how much of it is flat by referring to the home buyer’s survey for specific measurements.

Alternatively, you can have a survey carried out by a qualified builder, roofer or surveyor and ask them to calculate the percentage of the roof that is flat. It’s important to have this information to hand when taking out a quote so as to be able to secure accurate cover for your property. To get a quote, you need to know which bracket your flat roof fits in to: 0-33%, 34-50%, 51-75% or 76-100%.

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