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Get a quoteStorm Isha: travel disruption, power cuts and storm damage
Your rights and how to make a claim for storm disruption or damage
Storm Isha has caused widespread disruption across the UK with high winds and heavy rain leaving thousands of homes without power.
The Met Office warning for strong winds across the UK remains in place on Monday, with further weather warnings expected later this week.
Don't be left out of pocket if your train's been cancelled or you've had a power cut at home. You may be able to claim back compensation if you've been affected by the storm.
Here, Which? explains your rights and how to make a claim.
- Power cut compensation
- Train compensation
- Flight compensation
- Home insurance claims
- Car insurance claims
1. Claim compensation for power cuts
Around 45,000 people in Northern Ireland were left without power overnight on Sunday, along with 8,000 losing their supply in north-west England.
Typically your electricity distribution company has 24 hours to restore your electricity supply if it fails due to a storm. If it fails to restore your power, you might be able to claim compensation.
For Category 1 storms, you're entitled to £80 if the supply isn't restored after 24 hours.
For Category 2 storms, the £80 entitlement begins after 48 hours.
You're then entitled to a further £40 for every six hours you're without power after the initial 24 or 48-hour period.
The maximum amount of compensation you can receive for a single power cut is £2,000.
2. Get a ticket refund for train travel was disrupted
Most train operators have announced delays and cancellations due to the storm. ScotRail services have been suspended since 7pm on Sunday and aren't expected to resume until later on Monday.
Network Rail has imposed a 50mph speed limit on most routes as a precautionary safety measure, while other networks such as Avanti, LNER, Transport for Wales and Merseyrail have also reported closures and delays this morning.
If you've been affected, it's worth checking what your train operator is offering in terms of reusing tickets. ScotRail, for example, says tickets dated 21 and 22 January can be used up to two days after the date on the tickets.
You might also be able to make a claim and get back some (or all) of the cost of your ticket.
Most UK train companies now offer compensation under the national Delay Repay scheme. If you’ve experienced a train delay or cancellation of at least 15 or 30 minutes (depending on your train company) you'll be entitled to a full or partial refund for that journey.
For example, ScotRail says customers who travel but arrive more than 29 mins late to their destination are entitled to money back under its Delay Repay guarantee. Greater Anglia customers who have been delayed by more than 15 minutes are entitled to compensation.
It's worth double checking what your train operator is offering and how long you have to make a claim.
You can use our guide to make a train delay repay claim.
3. Know your rights if your flight was delayed or cancelled
Air traffic control restrictions have caused flight cancellations and diversions overnight.
If your flight is delayed by more than two hours or cancelled, your airline has a legal duty to look after you.
You're entitled to:
- two free phone calls, faxes or emails
- free meals and refreshments appropriate to the delay
- free hotel accommodation and hotel transfers if an overnight stay is required.
But be aware that airlines don't have to pay compensation for flight delays if they're caused by extraordinary circumstances, such as severe weather.
Always check with your airline for any disruption before travelling to the airport.
- Find out more: use our flight delay compensation tool
4. Make an insurance claim on your home insurance
If your home's been damaged due to flooding, you should be covered as a standard part of buildings insurance.
A typical policy should cover damage caused by floodwater entering your home from an external source, such as heavy rainfall, storms and high tide, or a river bursting its banks.
Insurers will generally pay for cleaning up and repairing your property, as well as cover temporary accommodation if required.
If you've also bought contents insurance, your possessions will also be covered – although there are likely to be a few caveats. For example, many insurers won't cover damage caused by groundwater flooding (when water comes up through the ground). Some policies also exclude damage to certain parts of your property, such as its outbuildings or fences.
Get in touch with your provider as soon as possible – it can make any emergency payments needed, arrange any temporary emergency accommodation and organise necessary repairs. Most insurers will also have 24-hour emergency helplines
If you have to arrange emergency repairs yourself, tell your insurer and keep any receipts, as this will form part of your claim.
- Find out more: does home insurance cover flooding?
5. Claim on your car insurance
If your car's been damaged, make sure you check your policy documents carefully before making a claim. Most comprehensive motor insurance policies should cover the cost of repairing or replacing vehicles damaged by flooding, but drivers with a basic third-party or third-party, fire and theft policy are unlikely to be offered any protection.
Flood cover usually includes damage to upholstery and the entertainment system, but may not pay out for personal possessions left in the vehicle
But even if your policy does cover flood damage, insurers may not pay out if they feel you haven't taken steps to keep the car safe – for example, you deliberately drove through floodwater or were driving recklessly in a storm.
Driving during a red weather warning doesn't mean you can't make a claim for damage, but it could invalidate your policy if the insurer decides you didn't follow advice on travelling – such as sticking to a lower speed limit.
If you're worried about protection, you might also consider taking out gap insurance – short for guaranteed asset protection. This is usually sold as an add-on but can be bought as a standalone policy. It's meant to cover the difference between the price you paid for your new vehicle and the amount your insurer is willing to pay for it should it get stolen, or written off, soon after buying it.
- Find out more: best car insurance policies
