Consumer watchdog Which? has called on the Financial Conduct Authority to examine if insurers are being slow to agree liability and settle storm damage claims. Since October, Which? said there had been six named storms and that it was concerned with how some insurers were approaching cover for storms and handling associated claims.

Rocio Concha, director of policy and advocacy at Which?, said: “Storms and floods can cause serious damage to people’s homes and when that happens, policyholders want to know that their insurer is working to handle the claim fairly and quickly, without causing unnecessary stress.

“What they don’t expect across the insurance industry is for firms to drag their feet, denying the cause and extent of the damage, and then lowballing customers with derisory cash settlements.”

“The FCA must get a grip of this issue and make sure firms are treating their customers fairly, so when the worst happens, insurance does what it’s there to do.”