“If minor damage has been caused to farm yards that will amount to a claim under €2,500, our advice to farmers would be to arrange to get it repaired themselves,” Graham said. “However, where the damage exceeds this then farmers should make contact before they touch anything.”

Where the insurance damage claim will come to less than €2,500, farmers are required to keep all invoices for the repairs. It is also vital that they take as many pictures as possible both before and after the work has been carried out to ensure a quick and efficient claims process, according to Graham.

“If a farmers gets a quote for work that is under €2,500 but this then spirals out of control and somebody submits a claim for €7,000, for example, then we will send a loss adjuster out to verify the costs.”

Excessive damage

Where the damage is over €2,500, farmers must take a different approach, according to Graham.

“If the damage is over €2,500, don’t touch it. The first thing that you should do is make contact either by email or by phone with your policy number. Provide details of what has happened with photos where possible. We will then organise to get out an electrician, tradesman, whoever is needed to repair the damage safely.”

While some sheds have been damaged with recent storms, this is not the majority of the damage.

“There has been a large number of claims around property and outbuildings. Outbuildings is the main one at the minute and not sheds.”