Home insurers paid out £846 million in property claims in the first quarter of 2026. Weather-related claims reached a record average of £6,040 as extreme weather drives up costs.
What happened
The ABI released the data on 6 May 2026. The average household claim was £6,340, the highest on record and up 20% on a year earlier. Weather-related claims averaged £6,040, also a record and up 38% year on year. Subsidence claims averaged £17,820, up 9%, and theft claims averaged £4,350, up 14%.
What this means for you
Where weather exposure is high, expect continued upward pressure on premiums. Review your sum insured so it reflects rebuild costs, and weigh flood and storm preparedness. Our guide to flood and storm cover explains what policies include, our piece on underinsurance and the average clause shows the rebuild-cost risk, and our home claims data analysis breaks down where the money goes. The Claims and complaints hub covers what to do after a loss.
Sources
- ABI, Home insurers pay out £846 million to support households (6 May 2026).