Is a Roof Leak Covered by Home Insurance?

Published 6 October 2026 by SA Roofing

Usually covered: Sudden damage such as storm damage, subject to your policy terms
Usually excluded: Wear and tear, including roofs that have deteriorated over time
Before repairs: Photos, dates, fallen debris and receipts
If refused: The insurer's complaints process, then the FSPO
Always: Check your own policy wording

Does home insurance cover a leaking roof?

It depends on why the roof is leaking and on the wording of your own policy. If water is coming in now, deal with that first through our emergency roof repairs line, then read your policy. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission's guide to home insurance lists storm damage among the things a buildings policy usually covers, with some restrictions, and lists wear and tear as usually excluded, giving roof damage as an example.

This guide is a roofer's view of what usually comes up when a roof claim is made. It is general information only. Your policy document and your insurer or broker are the reliable answer for your own house, so check the policy before you assume either way.

Storm damage compared with wear and tear

The line insurers draw is between damage that happened suddenly and damage that built up over time. Slates or ridge tiles blown off in a named storm, a flat roof peeled back by a gust or a branch through the roof are the kind of events a policy is written for. A flashing that has been cracking for years, slates slipping because the original nails have rusted, or a felt roof at the end of its life are maintenance, and a claim for them is usually refused even if the leak first showed during a storm.

Many real cases are a mix of both. A storm can strip slates from a roof that already had widespread nail sickness, or lift felt that was brittle and poorly bonded. A loss adjuster will look at the age and condition of the roof around the damage, such as heavy moss, old repairs, rust stains and slipped slates elsewhere on the slope. Our guide to what causes roof leaks describes the common long-term faults.

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Flat roofs and your policy

Some insurers ask on the proposal form whether part of the house has a flat roof, and how much, and some policies treat flat roofs differently. Insurance Ireland's guide to household insurance stresses disclosing all relevant information when you take out cover, because a policy can be treated as void if you do not. If you have added a flat-roofed extension since the policy started, tell your insurer or broker.

Flat roofs also have shorter lives than pitched ones, so a claim on an older felt roof is more likely to be judged as wear and tear. Keeping a record of when it was last replaced helps.

What to record before anything is repaired

Policies usually expect you to limit further damage, so you should not leave water pouring in while you wait for someone to call out, and the safety steps for those first few hours are set out in our guide on what to do in a roofing emergency. The CCPC guide to making an insurance claim advises contacting your insurer as soon as you discover a problem and following their advice, and checking whether any emergency repairs they suggest are covered. Before temporary work is done, record what you safely can.

Photos and video of the damage outside, taken from the ground or a window.
Photos of stains, wet ceilings and damaged belongings inside.
The date and time, and the weather, including any storm warning.
Any fallen slates or tiles, kept where it is safe to do so.
Receipts for emergency repairs and any temporary cover.

What a roofer's report should say

Insurers often ask for a description of the damage from the contractor who inspected or repaired it. A useful one says what was found, where, and what was done, in plain terms: how many slates were missing from which slope, whether the lead flashing had lifted or torn, and what the roof around the damage looked like. Photos taken on the roof, which you cannot safely take yourself, are often the most valuable part.

A report should describe the roof honestly. A roofer cannot decide whether damage is covered and should not word a report to suit a claim, because that decision belongs to your insurer under the terms of your policy.

If the claim is refused

The CCPC explains that an insurer must tell you in writing if a claim is not settled in your favour, including how to appeal. Read the reason against the wording of your policy, and if you disagree, use the insurer's own complaints process first. Insurance Ireland runs an Insurance Information Service that gives guidance on next steps for queries and complaints about insurance companies. If a complaint is still not resolved, the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman deals with complaints against financial service providers free of charge, once you have complained to the provider.

For larger claims some people hire a loss assessor, who works for the policyholder, while a loss adjuster works for the insurer. The CCPC notes that an assessor's fees are not paid by the insurer.

Getting the damage looked at

Whatever happens with the claim, the roof still needs to be made watertight. Our emergency roof repair service runs 24/7 on 085 172 1435 for storm damage and leaks, and once the roof is safe we give you a free quote for the permanent repair. We can describe the damage we found and the work we carried out so you have the information your insurer asks for, but the claim itself is between you and your insurer. If the leak only shows in downpours, our guide to a roof leaking in heavy rain can help you describe it.

Frequently asked questions

Does home insurance cover a roof that leaks because of old age?

Usually not. Policies are written for sudden events such as storms, and gradual deterioration, such as rusted slate nails, cracked flashing or worn-out felt, is normally treated as wear and tear. Check your own policy wording.

Should I get the roof repaired before the insurer sees it?

Tell your insurer first if you can, and follow their advice. Policies usually expect you to stop further damage, so a temporary repair to keep water out is normally reasonable, but photograph everything and keep receipts before and after.

Is a flat roof covered by home insurance in Ireland?

Often, yes, for sudden damage, but some insurers ask about flat roofs on the proposal form and some policies treat them differently. Make sure your insurer knows about any flat-roofed extension, and check the policy terms.

What is the difference between a loss assessor and a loss adjuster?

A loss assessor works for you, the policyholder, and you pay their fee. A loss adjuster is appointed by the insurer to assess the claim on its behalf.

Who can I complain to if my roof claim is refused?

Start with your insurer's own complaints process. If that does not resolve it, the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman handles complaints against insurers free of charge, and Insurance Ireland's Insurance Information Service can advise on next steps.

Is a roof leak covered by home insurance in Ireland?