After the storm, a scared son called a Kaunas resident – I moved home to see what disaster had happened.

Residential property insurance saves not only from theft but also from natural disasters. Damages that you may not be able to repair yourself are evaluated by specialists.

What disasters occur and what are the maximum amounts of their damages? Natural disasters, which can be offset during the approaching snowfall and thaw, are a huge issue.

The wind hurt

Kaunas AT (first and last name known by editorial board – past ed.). He requested a ban when he received a scared call from his son. It turns out that major storms in November hit the roof of the house.

“I was outside, suddenly my son called. I was really scared, says Dad, the roof is coming down. I think the moment things fell, the kid found it really unpleasant.

I got home, luckily they just ripped off my pendants. A little concern. True, I can’t imagine how much it would have cost or how much trouble to handle it ourselves because we contacted the insurance immediately. He arrived very quickly, assessed the damage, paid, berods, 400 euros.

Now there is nothing we can do again about the weather. We are waiting for the snow to go away so we can fix the roof, “said AT

What kinds of objects do people use for sure? This question arises for people planning to buy their own home. Is the property insurance of the population chosen only by the owners of new construction properties, or also by the houses of old houses and farmhouses?

Residential property insurance is insurance chosen by clients and “Natural Hazard” is part of this insurance, which is included in the insurance package.

Vasarė Širmelytė, a property insurance specialist at BTA, explained that risk from natural forces is even more important for older homes.

“This ban is relevant for everyone, because the threat from natural forces is the same for everyone: new and old buildings. Of course, older houses are at a higher risk of being affected by natural disasters: naturally they are already more worn, so they are generally easier to damage. However, homeowners in new construction are equally willing to protect their property from damage, “he said.

The amounts can be huge

The specialist identified specific forces of nature whose damages are covered by insurance.

“Personal property insurance compensates for damage caused by the following natural forces: storms, rain, hail, heavy snow and snow pressure, unforeseen floods, subsidence and landslides,” he said.

V. Širmelytė also specified in which cases the insurance would not be valid. They are really few: “The insurance does not cover damage to buildings in flood zones. In other words, if the client suffers damage in the flooded areas every year, the insurance does not cover this risk ”.

According to the expert, there are around 400 reports of damage caused by natural forces a year, but this number fluctuates every year.

“It is determined by the season: each year it slows down different natural disasters. In 2019, we received several floods, while in the spring and early summer of 2020 there were very severe storms, and with the new year we were hit by heavy snow, while in 2020 there was almost no snow in Lithuania. It is impossible to predict the forces of nature, every year they become a kind of surprise, “said V. Širmelytė.

Sometimes we say or think to ourselves in silence: “Nothing will happen.” But trusting in success runs the risk of fantastic costs. It turns out that the maximum claims for damages can reach amounts that make it seem easier to buy an apartment. For example, when a tree falls in the garden due to the wind, the damage can be very small and difficult to imagine.

“Removing a boiled tree from a fence or roof can cost between 150 and 300 euros. Pricing is determined by the size of the tree and the location of the event.

It is good if the tree just falls and does no more damage. However, in most cases, when the tree rotates, the roofs are damaged, the fence or the patio pillars are overturned; in such cases, the damage can reach up to 30,000 euros. These amounts may be necessary to restore the damaged structure and roof covering, ”said V. Širmelytė.