Now the winter months are upon us and the first floods of the winter have hit parts of the north west of the country, now is a good time to dust off your buildings insurance policy and ensure you have adequate cover.

Insurance companies are becoming very worried about the increase in flood claims and are starting to place harsh conditions on their policy holders.

Here are a few things to think about.

What is the excess on the policy? Ten years ago a normal excess for flood damage could have been as low as 200 however with the concerns about global warming and more rainfall this low excess isn't achievable without paying a very large monthly premium which is out of the reach of most but the most wealthy households. If you have been with the same insurer for many years it is a good idea to make sure they haven't increased your excess without you realising as it will be too late if you are flooded out of your home.

Will the insurer pay for temporary accommodation? If your home is badly flooded it will take at least 4 months to dry out before redecoration can start and often a lot longer than this. Check your policy to see how long they will pay for temporary accommodation and how much they will pay per month. Many people are often forced to spend upwards of a year in totally unsuitable accommodation because their policy doesn't pay out enough each month to allow a decent house.

Insurers place higher premiums on houses that are in areas that are prone to flooding such as coastal towns or homes built on flood plains but it is worth checking with the authorities to see if any flood prevention work has been carried out in your area recently that could take you out of this high risk category. If so, contact your insurer and ask for this to be taken into account as it could reduce your premiums.