Some useful info after the two recent storms that have affected parts of the UK;
Homeowners clearing up after Storms Austen and Boelo could face bills of as much as £1,500 to replace a blown-down garden fence, and many won’t know whether their home insurance will pay until they make a claim. Cover for storm damage to fences, gates and hedges depends on the insurer, and some policies exclude it altogether.
Storm Austen, the first named storm of the 2026–27 season, brought gusts of up to 76mph to the Isles of Scilly on Friday, with 75mph recorded at the Isle of Portland in Dorset and the Needles on the Isle of Wight, and 74mph at Aberporth in west Wales, according to the Met Office. Storm Boelo followed over the weekend, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England.
The team at Norton Insurance Brokers analysed 2026 UK trade price guides alongside Financial Ombudsman Service decisions on storm damage. According to the guides, replacing a full garden fence of around 15 metres costs £1,000 to £1,500, while rebuilding a 10-metre brick garden wall costs £1,200 to £2,200. Smaller repairs are priced as separate jobs: a single fitted fence panel costs £45 to £110, and a new post £70 to £160.
What storm damage could cost you
| Storm damage | Typical cost (2026) | Covered by home insurance? |
| Replace one fence panel, fitted | £45 to £110 | Depends on the insurer |
| Replace one fence post | £70 to £160 | Depends on the insurer |
| Storm damage across a fence run | £200 to £800 | Depends on the insurer; may be close to your excess |
| New garden gate, fitted | £180 to £600 | Depends on the insurer; can be excluded |
| Full garden fence, about 15m (8 panels) | £1,000 to £1,500 | Depends on the insurer |
| Brick garden wall, 10m long, 1m high | £1,200 to £2,200 | Depends on the insurer; can be refused as wear and tear |
Even where a policy does cover fences, the excess matters. Typical storm damage across a fence run costs £200 to £800 to repair, so once the policy excess is taken off, homeowners could still be left paying a large share of the bill themselves. Many policies also require damage to be reported, even if the homeowner doesn’t go on to claim.
The bigger bills are where cover matters most. Some policies include garden walls, but insurers can refuse a claim if the wall was already deteriorating. In one ombudsman decision, a homeowner lost because poor maintenance, not the storm, was judged the main cause of the wall’s collapse. And where the fence itself isn’t covered, the damage it does to a conservatory, shed or wall can be a separate claim.
Storm damage is also getting more expensive. The average storm damage payout reached £2,450 in 2025, £750 more than in 2024, according to the Association of British Insurers, and the worst of the storm season is still to come.
What to do now
Norton Insurance Brokers recommends homeowners check the storm section of their policy today for the words “fences, gates and hedges”, and note their total excess. Make the property safe and take reasonable steps to stop further damage, then photograph all damage before clearing up, including broken posts and the base of any wall, and keep any debris you can until the insurer has seen it.
Before paying for repairs, get at least two written quotes and compare the cost with the excess before deciding whether to claim, and check whether your policy requires the damage to be reported, even if you don’t claim. Check the title deeds, or speak to your neighbour, to find out who owns a shared fence, as the cost may fall to them. Be wary of traders who cold-call after a storm asking for cash up front. To avoid bigger bills later in the winter, replace rotten or loose posts now: a new post costs £70 to £160, far less than a full run of fencing.
Mark Wilkinson, Managing Director at Norton Insurance Brokers, said:
“A blown-down fence can easily turn into a four-figure bill, and a lot of people assume their home insurance will pick it up. Whether it does depends on the insurer, and most people don’t check until they need to claim. Look at your policy and your excess before you call a tradesperson.”
“For a couple of panels, weigh the repair cost against your excess, and check what your policy says about reporting damage. Spend the money now on any rotten posts or crumbling brickwork, because that’s what fails in the next storm, and it’s the easiest thing for an insurer to call wear and tear.”
“When your home insurance comes up for renewal, don’t just compare on price. Check whether storm cover includes fences, gates and garden walls, and what your total excess is. Those details decide whether the next storm bill lands with you or your insurer.”
For more home insurance information, visit: www.nortonib.co.uk/home-insurance/.
Be the first to comment