Severe weather could hurt consumers more than they originally think, new research shows.

Over the course of last year, figures by Halifax Home Insurance revealed that more than 1.5 million roofs incurred damage by winds of up to 77 miles per hour. According to the financial services firm, repairing a home after wind damage sets the average householder back by 2,800 pounds. With this figure equating to 12 per cent of the average Briton’s annual income, it was suggested that such accidents could place particular pressure on those lacking sufficient home insurance cover as they would have to shell out for the cost of repairing their property from their own pocket.

Overall, it was stated that ruined roofs have incurred a “staggering” 4.5 billion pounds worth of damage during 2007. Meanwhile, the insurer pointed out that the typical home affected by wind damage has needed 127 tiles replacing - a total of 200 million across the country.

Consumers who lack an adequate insurance policy or do not have cover at all, however, might wish to consider getting a homeowner loan to help them meet the cost of having their property repaired.

Commenting on the study, Martyn Foulds, senior claims manager for Halifax Home Insurance, stated: “The damage caused by high winds runs into billions of pounds each year. Immediate action is vital if householders are to avoid seeing the problem exacerbated by water coming in through missing or broken tiles. It’s advisable for homeowners to conduct a thorough inspection from ground level following high winds and call in a professional if they are concerned there may be damage.”

He went on to claim that those who lack a sufficient insurance policy are leaving themselves open to face “a huge hole blown in their finances by the cost of repairs”. The claims manager added that with cases of extreme weather rising, it is important for Britons to take measures to avoid sustaining damage not just on their property but also on their purse strings.

Furthermore a recent study by Benfield Hazard Research Centre indicated that storm-related losses in Britain could rise by more than a third (37 per cent). As such, it was suggested that the cost of damage to homes by the weather could place even more financial pressure on homeowners in months to come.

Research from the firm also showed that about 15,000 Britons have suffered damage to their windows due to falling tiles over the past 12 months, with the same proportion seeing their neighbour’s home or car affected by such an occurrence. An estimated 78,000 people, meanwhile, have witnessed their shed, outbuilding or summer house become victim to falling tiles.

Halifax also claimed that people suffering from a damaged roof could see that more than the top layer of their home is in need of repair. Due to missing tiles, water that has subsequently leaked into properties has resulted in costs averaging 1,604 pounds per incident. Overall, it was stated that through the likes of damp, electrical fires, mould and flooding, this has caused some 2.5 billion pounds of destruction across the country.

For those who do not have insurance but who are looking for an effective way to finance repairing a property, taking out a home improvement loan could be advisable not only to fund the cost of purchasing materials but also to hire qualified professionals to carry out such work. Furthermore, the additional monetary assistance that a homeowner loan provides may help borrowers to generate enough disposable income to purchase a sufficient insurance policy to avoid such constraints on their spending in the future. Such a loan may be of particular help to many consumers after a recent Nationwide study showed that one in five Britons do not have any form of buildings cover, with a quarter unaware of what level of protection their insurance policy provides. The firm claimed that such consumers could be at particular risk should a fire, storm or flood strike their home.

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