A winter home-insurance check can begin with paperwork rather than a new quotation. Find the full policy, schedule, renewal date and reporting contact, then make sure the household knows where they are kept.

The purpose is to identify questions while there is time to ask them. A policy summary or an old renewal email is not enough to establish what a particular loss would cover.

Separate the building from its contents

The CCPC distinguishes buildings cover, which concerns the structure and fixtures, from contents cover for possessions. It explains that storm and flood cover can have restrictions and that wear and tear is generally excluded. The excess is the amount you pay towards a claim. [1]

Mark the relevant sections in your own documents and note any uncertainties. Ask the insurer or broker about the actual policy wording; do not turn a general guide into a promise that a fence, roof repair or water-related problem will be covered.

Check what has changed since renewal

Have renovations, an extension or other circumstances changed the information the insurer holds? The CCPC recommends reviewing cover and explains that a building's rebuilding cost is different from its market value. Underinsurance can affect the amount paid. [1]

Ask what assessment or information the provider requires rather than choosing a figure from a property advertisement. If the home will be vacant, check the policy's particular conditions in advance; there is no single absence period to assume for every policy.

Assemble one small household folder

Keep the current policy and schedule together, with the policy number, reporting number and broker's details where relevant. Add a brief record of questions asked, the date and the answer received. Store useful receipts and ordinary photographs of possessions securely, without sharing account details publicly.

Let another adult in the household know how to access the folder. An offline copy of the essential contacts can be helpful if online records are temporarily unavailable.

Know the first reporting step

The CCPC's claims guidance recommends checking the full policy and contacting the insurer or broker promptly when a problem is discovered. Follow their advice and ask whether any proposed emergency-repair costs are covered. [2]

Personal safety comes first; this paperwork exercise is not a reason to inspect a damaged roof or enter an unsafe area. Keep a note of the report and subsequent instructions, and ask the provider what supporting information is required.

The result should be a usable record of the cover and its conditions, plus a clear route for questions. It cannot determine in advance whether a future claim will be accepted.

Sources were checked on 13 October 2026.