Tiles or roofing sheets that are torn off. Large trees that blow over and land on the house. Or garden furniture that flies away and breaks window panes.
During the second quarter of this year, that is, March-May, the number of storm-related damage reports on villas and holiday homes surged to 10,732, according to a compilation by LF Fastighetsförmedling. Insurance companies have never had so much storm damage to houses in the second quarter since measurements began in 1975.
Spring, not winter
The explanation is Storm Dave, which hit the west coast hard over the Easter weekend. Usually, severe storms, like Gudrun in 2005, tend to hit in the winter.
Dave and its consequences remind us of the importance of reducing the risk of injury during extreme weather.
Natural damage varies from year to year, but over time we see an increasing trend in insurance amounts. So there tends to be more and bigger damages,” says Per Sangrud.
Secure the trampoline
His advice is to review your home insurance and what it covers, and to inspect the property itself. Are the windbreaks in place properly? Is there a risk of a large tree falling over a building? Is the trampoline secured so it can't fly away?
Then you can contact the county administrative board and the municipality and check what climate risks exist in your area. They are responsible for mapping climate-related risks in both new and existing buildings, says Per Sangrud.
LF Fastighetsförmedling's compilation includes villas and holiday homes. If business and agricultural insurance is included, the number of reported storm damage in the second quarter rises to 17,000, according to statistics from the industry association Swedish Insurance.
LF Fastighetsförmedling's compilation is based on statistics from the Swedish Insurance Association. Quarterly data has been collected from non-life insurance companies since 1975.
The statistics include damage caused by storms. Damage caused by water, lightning, forest fires or other natural causes is not included.
Source: LF Real Estate Agency
