Storms and heavy rain pushed up weather-related home insurance claims in the UK by more than a third last year to a record £573m, according to industry data.

The repair bill for storm damage and other extreme weather during 2023 was £150m more than in 2022, the Association of British Insurers said, contributing to an overall 10% rise in residential property claims settled last year.

The increase was fuelled by a succession of storms including Babet, Ciaran and Debi, according to the ABI. The weather total includes flood damage as well as burst pipes in freezing temperatures, which accounted for £153m, mainly at the beginning of 2023 at the tail end of a cold winter.

The average weather-related payout was approaching £5,000 in 2023 compared with a little over £3,000 in 2022.

Reported in The Guardian