Protecting your property from storms

In recent years, there has been an increased frequency in the number of severe storms hitting all areas of the United Kingdom - some worse off than others - with the ferocity and intensity greater than has been experienced, and weather records tumbling with shorter intervals between.

In part, this is due to the changes in the jet stream, which is responsible for feeding weather systems into the borders of the country. But, scientifically speaking, it's a direct impact of the climate change crisis. As scientists have increasingly warned, such adverse weather events with their extremes are going to become a regular occurrence.

While the global effort continues to work at resolving the causes of the climate change issue, there are certain things you can do to play your part, such as ensuring your carbon footprint is minimised by reducing the impact of fossil fuels, for example.

However, while the extreme weather events continue - and perhaps even worsen - you'll need to ensure that your home is protected from damage.

It's a sensible precaution as a homeowner to check the property over on a regular basis as part of a general maintenance schedule. This will ensure that you pick up any changes that can be fixed before they develop into a crisis.

UK estate agency Your Move suggests the following areas to check after a bad storm:

• The roof and loft - in high winds, tiles can crack or become displaced, which opens up a small avenue for rainwater to enter the property.

It goes without saying that you should make any checks in a safe way, but you can use binoculars and other ways to inspect the roof from ground level. If you access the loft space, you can check for any evidence of water coming in. 

If there are any loose or cracked tiles, then it's worth contacting an expert to confirm the likelihood of leaks and what needs to be done to fix the problems. Be aware that safety requirements may mean that a tiler will need to put up scaffolding.

• Chimneys - in the same way, you should check that chimney stacks and the pots on top are in good order, including the flashings, the brickwork and the seating of the pots. 

Again, an expert will be in a good position to verify any concerns you might have identified.

• Ceiling and wall discoloration - regularly checking the internal walls and ceilings for any dark stains will highlight early problems that might be caused by roofing problems.
• Garden fixtures - it may seem obvious, but there will be items in the garden that might fly around in the presence of high winds (there are regular videos shown online with trampolines flying down the road, for instance).

One other aspect you might want to consider is the proximity of trees and any other tall plants. A tree specialist will be able to confirm the health of any branches, as well as the tree itself, with a risk assessment of whether it is weak enough to shed its branches or potentially be completely uprooted.

Be aware of Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs), too, which will mean you'll need to talk to the council about any remedial work you want to perform on any tree within the auspices of the Order. This can be bypassed if the work is necessary to protect immediate life and health.

• Surge protectors - some electrical equipment in the home is susceptible to failure and damage in the event of an electrical surge created by a lightning strike on the property. This is particularly relevant for televisions and computer devices (which are plugged in to the mains).

To prevent the problem, surge-proof plug extenders can be applied to the set-up, or a qualified electrician can be employed to fit a surge-protection device to the point at which the electricity enters the property.

• Insurance - as Right Move points out - and it might seem a bit obvious - consider getting an appropriate level of insurance that will protect you in the situation of a weather event that causes damage at your property.

In addition, you should look into ways of protecting your property from floods. We have covered some of this in previous articles, but particularly look into where rainwater is pooling and sitting on or near the property, with special focus on any flat roofs. Water will always find a way in even with tiny holes, and sitting water will perpetuate any problems that exist.

Gutters and drainpipes should be regularly checked and maintained as cascading rainwater down walls might create the circumstances for damp and mould to grow inside the property.

Flooding can also cause problems with the building's foundations leading to either subsidence or the rarer but still impactful heave (where subsidence clears the earth around the foundations creating a void for the building to tip into, heave pushes the foundations upwards as the ground swells with the increase of water).

When you're planning on buying a property, you'll have little immediate knowledge about the potential impact of storms on the building and surrounding land.

You might see visible evidence of potential areas of concern, such as mould growth, water stains, obvious cracked tiles, and so on, but you may not know the detailed issues with the home or its location.

Your conveyancing solicitor will carry out the standard searches that identify known issues with flooding, and they may recommend getting a detailed flood report from a specialist for your peace of mind. They will also confirm the existence of any TPOs affecting the property (either on the property's land or in neighbouring gardens that have a direct impact).

But, if you want to know the current state of the property with respect to storm damage and flooding, you are best getting a detailed survey from a quality Chartered Surveyor. They will visit the property and use various tools and technologies to check and verify the existence of problems in the building from top to bottom.

The report for a Level 2 or Level 3 Survey is presented in an easily-understood traffic light system, with red indicating a major problem that needs an immediate resolution, amber suggesting a major problem that needs to be fixed soon (but not immediately), and green showing that the inspection has found it in an acceptable state.

The surveyor will also be able to make recommendations on the next steps to be taken to resolve any significant issues with a rough estimate of cost. This will allow you to assess the ongoing remedial and maintenance costs if you go ahead. It will also provide qualified information to enter into any discussions about reducing the asking price with the seller to pay for the work.

And that's where it is really worth contacting Surveyor Local! 

Surveyor Local only works with members of RICS to offer home buyers a comprehensive range of surveys that are affordable and will provide the information required on a property. 

Your appointed surveyor will be local to the property you are buying so they will know the area and bring that knowledge to their assessment and their analysis of the issues with the new home.

Not only will the surveyor work hard to find all the problems affecting the property, they will also be keen to adopt new and proven technology in order to give the best survey possible.

Surveyor Local will provide a quote that will not change - what you are quoted is what you pay. 

Next-day bookings are usually available, and your appointed surveyor will look after arranging access to the property with the estate agent and the seller. Once the survey is complete, they will send you a PDF copy of the report by email.

Call  to get your survey quote started, or to discuss your concerns with the acquisition of your planned property.

Or you can get a quick quote, using Surveyor Local's easy-to-use quote generator. 

We'll do the rest once you confirm your acceptance of the quote.