Almost two-thirds of flood damage occurs during the summer months, according to damage statistics from If. If May and September are also included, 80 percent of flood-related damage occurs during these five months.
Property owners have a legal responsibility to keep their house watertight.
The most obvious thing you can do as a homeowner is to keep an eye on the weather forecast before you travel. If it looks like there will be heavy rain during the period, you should have someone who can check the house, says Sara Aschan.
More damage
Damage caused by torrential rain varies from year to year. The worst period in recent years was in August 2021, when heavy rain in Gävleborg led to widespread property damage. The insurance company's customers experienced eight times as much torrential rain damage during that period as in a typical August.
Also in connection with Storm Hans in 2023, the insurance company noticed six times as much flash-flood damage as normal.
Another thing that many property owners often forget is something as obvious as closing windows and doors, according to Sara Aschan. You should also think about how you store things in the basement. The risk of damage is reduced if you put things on shelves or in plastic bins instead of placing them on the ground.
Depends on circumstances
Also check the roof before summer, make sure the roof tiles are intact and that there are no leaks. It's a slightly larger investment, but check the drainage around the house, that the water is actually flowing away from the building and not towards it.
If an accident occurs and you are insured, you are protected, but this is based on the event being "unpredictable and sudden."
If a window is left completely open during heavy rain, it can unfortunately be difficult to consider the damage as unforeseen, depending on the circumstances, says Sara Aschan.
Clean gutters and drains. Check that floor drains and storm drains, downspouts and gutters are free of debris and leaves so that water can drain away.
Store properly in the basement. Move sensitive belongings to shelves and plastic bins.
Keep an eye on the weather forecast. Ask a relative or neighbour to keep an eye on your property if you are away.
Check that the roof is tight and without damage to avoid leaks.
Close windows, doors and openings when heavy rain is expected.
Check the ground around the house. To ensure rainwater drains away from the foundation, the ground should slope away from the house.
Source: If
