Protecting your listed home throughout the winter

By Abode Insurance

Heavy snow falls on a row of old stone houses and surrounding trees with snow-covered picnic tables in the foreground.

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Low temperatures and periods of extreme wind and rain are just some of the adverse weather conditions we see in winter.

With extreme weather comes an elevated level of risk to your listed property. From pipes freezing when the temperature drops to branches and other debris falling in high winds, your listed building is at a greater risk of damage. However, there are measures you can take to lower the risk of serious loss. Preparing your listed property can save yourself potential stress and a potentially significant financial hit.

Here are Abode’s top tips for protecting your listed building from damage over the winter.

A brick house with snow-covered trees and bushes in front, as heavy snowfall blankets the scene, partially obscuring visibility.

Protecting your listed property’s pipes from sub-zero temperatures

Freezing temperatures have the potential to cause significant damage to your listed property’s pipe work. To avoid a costly event occurring, we recommend:

Checking the insulation of interior water pipes and your home’s water tank. Outside pipes and any pipes or water tanks in your loft will also benefit from insulation.
Make sure to repair any taps that drip – if you don’t, water could freeze in the waste pipe, causing a leak. If you find any sign of a leak anywhere on your property, act quickly to save a bigger issue building over time.
Maintain the water temperature by keeping the heating on low. This should be between 10-12 degrees as a minimum. If you have a property which is unoccupied during the winter your insurance policy may require a minimum temperature. Each insurer’s temperature range may vary, so it’s important to check your policy wording.

If you find a pipe is frozen and needs defrosting, start at the furthest point from the tank, using hot towels or a hair dryer to gently warm it up. If you have a burst pipe, a water leak detector can reduce the risk of water damage. These work in two ways, with the more advanced devices automatically shutting off the incoming water mains supply. Other devices text an alert to your mobile phone. Simpler shut-off valves are also available.

Storms, wet weather and flooding

Even if you feel you are in an area with a low risk of flooding, remember that anywhere it rains, it can flood. Just because you haven’t experienced a flood in the past doesn’t mean you won’t in the future.

Regularly look over your property. Visual checks of the outside of your home will make you aware of any cracks, which could be worth fixing if damp is getting in.
Regularly inspect loft space for any gaps in the roof.
Keep your gutters and drains clear. A blockage in these can prevent water from draining correctly and cause a backlog around your home.
Keep an eye on any nearby trees. Falling debris can cause many issues, so steps to minimise the chance of this are advised. Where you can, clear dead branches to avoid them falling and causing damage. For more information on tree maintenance, read our article: Trees and your home insurance
In the event of heavy snow, use a roof rake to clear snow from the roof and prevent ice dams from forming.

A fallen tree branch rests on a broken white fence surrounded by green grass and trees.

If the Met Office issues a warning for heavy rains and flooding in your location, make sure you are prepared. You can read our tips and hints to help ensure your safety if heavy rains and flooding are prevalent. Heavy rains and floods – are you prepared?

For further information on how trees on your land can affect your home and insurance

Find out more

Check your home insurance

Even if you’ve taken steps to protect your home this winter, accidents can still happen. That’s why you should ensure that you have adequate home insurance cover that includes bad weather coverage. Most buildings insurance policies will include this, but it’s worth checking to prevent any unnecessary expenses or nasty surprises.

For more information, read our article: Checking your home insurance cover

How a broker can help

A specialist home insurance broker, like Howden, can talk to you about your property and make security and safety recommendations. We can introduce you to property management companies should you have an unoccupied property during winter. It’s just one of the many benefits of using a broker.

For more benefits, read our article about why using a specialist broker will be beneficial to you.

To learn more about protecting your property throughout the seasons, you can read our article Best ways to protect your listed home

To speak to a member of the team today, please call us on

01622 476 433

or submit an enquiry

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