Roofs and frozen pipes are the most likely problems to cause damage to your home this winter, according to a new study.

Research, commissioned by a leading insurance company, found that 40% of homes would be vulnerable to the UK’s harsh weather conditions. Frozen pipes and boiler breakdowns will be hit the most likely problems should severe weather conditions set in.

Despite last year being one of the coldest winters on record, with average temperatures of -1C, fewer people are taking more precautions to protect their home from winter damage this year. Last winter, 3 million Brits were victims of weather damage and the most common claim was for damage to the roof.

35% of homeowners made claims for roof damage last year and a further 31% of people made claims for frozen pipes, according to the research.

Stuart Curson, Head of Direct Line home insurance, commented: “As the last two winters have demonstrated, bad weather can cause serious damage to property as well as enormous stress to homeowners.”

“Whilst this winter has proved mild so far, it is important to be prepared for severe weather should it occur later on. In addition to checking that your insurance covers the cost of emergencies, taking a few simple actions such as lagging pipes and keeping your home well maintained will go a long way to limiting the damage winter weather might cause.”

The study found that over half of 18-34 year olds have made no effort to protect their home this winter, compared to the 74% of over 55 year olds who have.

Londoners are the worst for ensuring their property is winter safe, with 50% of them still having not prepared for impending winter weather.

If you are concerned about your property this winter, it could be worth looking at your home insurance policy to see what level of cover you have, in case of winter weather damage.