Extreme weather no longer follows the seasons. Is your home prepared?

When did you last check what your home insurance actually covers — before a storm arrived? On the Costa del Sol we're used to sunshine, yes, but also to sudden bouts of torrential rain, strong wind gusts and hailstorms that appear from nowhere and leave their mark.

And the figures don't lie: claims — that is, the damage that triggers your insurance cover — caused by extreme weather events surged by 107% in the past year alone. Hail leads the statistics (47%), followed by rain (29%) and wind (24%).

Damaged roofs, broken windows, damp, and late-night frights. Behind every percentage there is a real family facing a real problem.

Weather no longer has a season

In the past, we waited until autumn to talk about storms. Now it can pour with rain in August or bring hail in May. Climate change has broken the old patterns, and Marbella is no exception.

This means we can no longer relax simply because "it isn't storm season". The question is no longer whether it will rain heavily, but when.

What you can do BEFORE the next storm arrives

Prevention matters — enormously. A few simple steps can stop a downpour from turning into a disaster:

• Check your roof, gutters and drains at least once a year.
• Make sure awnings, pergolas and other exterior fittings are properly secured.
• Bring in plant pots and balcony furniture when a weather alert is in force.
• Check that windows and doors close properly.

But there is something many homeowners overlook: insurance does not cover damage to property that was not in good condition beforehand. If your roof had been leaking for years without being repaired, or your gutters were blocked by accumulated debris, the insurer may reject or reduce the payout on the grounds of inadequate maintenance. Keeping your home in good order is not just a matter of comfort — it is also a condition of your policy.

What does — and doesn't — home insurance cover for weather-related damage?

A good home insurance policy includes cover for damage caused by rain, wind, hail and other atmospheric events. However, not all policies are the same, and the details matter.

For example: does it cover only the building structure itself, or also the contents — your furniture and appliances? What is the limit on water damage cover? Is there an excess — the amount you pay out of your own pocket before the insurance kicks in — for storm damage?

Bear in mind too that if the damage is a direct consequence of failing to maintain your property — a leak that had gone unrepaired for months, a downpipe that had been blocked for some time — the insurer may not cover that element. A policy protects against unforeseen events, not against neglected wear and tear.

To get a clear picture of what your policy includes, take a look at our guide What does home insurance cover?, where we explain everything in plain language — no small print.

The most common claims on the Costa del Sol

In our area, the most frequent types of damage following heavy rain or strong winds are: water ingress through roofs or terraces, cracked or broken gutters and downpipes, damage to awnings and shutters, and damp in walls or ceilings.

What matters is knowing whether your current policy covers these scenarios and up to what limit. Quite often the cover exists, but the sum insured — the maximum the insurer would pay in the event of a claim — is insufficient for the actual value of the property or its contents.

If you would like to know more about how insurance responds in these situations, we cover everything in our article on weather events and home insurance.

Not sure what your current policy covers?

It is more common than you might think. Many people took out a home insurance policy years ago and are no longer certain exactly what it includes or whether the cover is still adequate for their current situation.

At Segurmar we will go through it with you, with no obligation. We'll explain what you have, what may be missing, and what options are available so that you are properly covered before the next storm arrives.