The background
In guidance published on 21 August 2026, the ABI encouraged homeowners to prepare for autumn and winter weather. This September briefing revisits that earlier advice; it is not a report of a new warning issued today. Check current local forecasts and official alerts before making decisions about an immediate weather risk.
What the insurance connection is
Preparation and insurance have different roles. Maintenance can reduce avoidable damage, while a policy sets out which losses and costs an insurer will meet. A weather forecast does not establish that a future claim will be covered. Check the definitions and excesses for storm, flood and escape-of-water damage in the wording you actually hold.
A practical policy review
Locate your insurer’s emergency number and claim instructions. Check the limits for temporary accommodation and whether your belongings are insured as well as the building. Ask how emergency work should be authorised, and keep useful evidence of the property and its contents. If you are a tenant, establish which matters go to the landlord and which concern your own contents insurer.
Keep the response proportionate
Follow current official safety advice and use a suitable professional for work that cannot be done safely. Do not interpret a seasonal outlook as certainty about a particular address. The useful action now is to resolve unclear policy terms and prepare contact details, rather than assume a headline predicts an individual loss.