People often think insurance companies use the notion of an 'act of nature' or a 'force of nature' as an excuse not to pay claims. For instance, if you're affected by something like a flood or a lightning strike.
But this is a misconception, and very few insurers nowadays feature an act of nature clause (or act of God) in their policies .
What is an act of nature?
In terms of insurance, an act of nature describes an event that couldn't have been foreseen or avoided. It is an event:
- Where no blame can be assigned to a person.
- That couldn't have realistically been prevented.
- Brought about as a direct result of natural causes.
Events that may be classed as acts of nature include lightning, hail, earthquakes, storms, floods or tornadoes.
Insurance policies have a list of specific exclusions that make clear what's insured and what's not. If something happens to you that's not excluded, and your claim meets all other policy terms and conditions, the insurer will pay out.
It's worthwhile looking at your own home insurance policy and reminding yourself of the exclusions. Or call your insurance provider and ask them to take you through them.
What isn't an act of nature?
In contrast to an act of nature is damage caused by a person, or damage which could reasonably have been anticipated, protected against or prevented.
For instance, an accidental fire in your home isn't considered an act of nature because it could have been avoided, perhaps by better workmanship when the house was built or by better fire safety.
The term act of nature can be confused with the legal concept known as force majeure. A force majeure clause generally appears in commercial contracts as a means of protection against unforeseen circumstances.
How do I make sure I'm covered?
UK weather patterns are changing, with the cost of flood damage in particular around £700m a year.
In 2016 the insurance industry and the UK government put into place the reinsurance scheme known as Flood Re. Essentially, it enables insurers to offer competitive insurance policies to homeowners at a high risk of flooding.
There are also a few steps you can take yourself to protect yourself from potential storm damage.
But the best way to ensure you're covered for acts of nature is to check your home insurance policy carefully before you buy.
Author: The AA. Published 23 October 2017. Updated 31 May 2024.
