Tree down, damage done… Here’s how to sort out your property fast

A massive crack, a sudden thud, a gust of wind that turned your once-peaceful garden into a scene from an action movie… And now you’ve got a tree lying across your lawn like it owns the place. Great. Because this is exactly what you needed on a Tuesday morning, right?

Take a breath. Fetch a koppie of tea. You’ve got this… And the king’s on your team.

A fallen tree can do serious damage to your home, outbuildings, walls, fences, gates and even the fancy solar setup you saved for months to install. But before you channel your inner lumberjack or post the drama on the neighbourhood WhatsApp group, there’s a right way to handle the situation. And handling it properly could be the difference between a smooth-sailing claim and a whole lot of unnecessary admin.

So, let’s walk through what you should do, what you absolutely shouldn’t do, and how your King Price buildings insurance steps in to help you put your kingdom back together again.

Step 1: Make sure everyone is safe

Before you do anything else, make sure no one has been injured. Fallen trees can hide hazards like:

• Live electrical wires.
• Cracked walls that may collapse.
• Damaged roofing.
• Loose bricks or debris.
• Sharp or splintered branches.

If there’s any chance of danger, keep your distance and call emergency services. This is 1 of those moments where bravery takes a seat and common sense takes the wheel.

Step 2: Avoid moving or cutting the tree yourself

Look, we know your uncle once built a bakkie canopy with nothing but a bread knife and determination, but now’s not the time to test your DIY limits.

Don’t:

• Try to cut the tree.
• Move the trunk or large branches.
• Start cleaning up the damage.
• Remove debris from the roof.
• Attempt to repair anything.

Why? Because disturbing anything can worsen the damage or make the claim assessment more difficult. And chainsaws? They really belong in the hands of professionals.

Stay out of harm’s way and document the scene instead.

Step 3: Take clear photos and videos

This part is important for your claim. Capture:

• The entire fallen tree.
• Where it fell from (if visible).
• All affected buildings and structures.
• Damage to the roof, gutters, walls, fences, gates, pools or solar panels.
• Any debris that has impacted the property.
• The inside of the home if water has entered.

If safe, take photos from multiple angles. Don’t climb onto the roof like a wannabe Spider-Man. Your feet belong on the ground.

Step 4: Prevent further damage, safely

You don’t need to rebuild the house right now, but small preventative steps are allowed. Overlay emphasis on safe.

If the fallen tree has exposed part of your property and there’s a risk of water flowing in, you may:

• Place buckets or containers inside the home.
• Put down old towels to protect the flooring.
• Cover small, exposed sections with plastic sheeting only if you can reach safely from the ground.

Don’t climb ladders. Don’t walk on roof tiles. Your dignity and bones will thank you later.

Step 5: Contact King Price immediately

Once everyone’s safe and you’ve captured the evidence, let the king know what’s happened. You must report any incident that may lead to a claim as soon as possible, and no later than 30 days after the incident.

Here’s how:

• Call/WhatsApp: 0860 50 50 50.
• Email: [email protected]
• Or submit via the king’s app/self-service portal.

You’ll need to provide:

• Your policy number.
• A description of what happened.
• Your photos and any videos.
• The date and time of the incident.
• Details of damage to buildings or outbuildings.

The king’s team will guide you from there. No need to stress… We’ve got more practice with falling-tree claims than you might think.

Step 6: Don’t start repairs until the king gives you the royal thumbs-up

We know you want your home looking less like a nature documentary aftermath and more like an actual home again. But don’t:

• Hire contractors.
• Remove broken structures.
• Replace damaged materials.
• Fix roofing or gutters.
• Dispose of debris.
• Cut up the tree.

Not until the king gives written approval. Premature repairs can delay or even prejudice your claim. And we don’t want that.

So… does King Price cover damage caused by a fallen tree?

In many cases, yes. When you have buildings insurance, you’re covered for damage to the permanent structures on your property. This includes your home, garage, outbuildings, walls, gates, and other fixed features. Tree damage caused by events like storms or strong winds is generally considered an insured peril under buildings cover.

Buildings insurance kicks in when events like these cause sudden and unforeseen damage to your property:

• Storms.
• Wind.
• Hail.
• Lightning.
• Falling trees.
• Impact damage.

Your KPPD makes it clear: Buildings insurance covers ‘damage to the physical structures of your property, like your home and its outbuildings’ and this applies when trees fall and cause accidental impact damage.

What if the fallen tree damages both my home AND my belongings?

Here’s where things get fun… Well, insurance-fun.

• Your buildings insurance covers permanent structures.
• Your home contents insurance covers the items inside those structures.

So, if the tree fell on your home office and crushed your roof and your fancy gaming chair?

You’d claim under:

• Buildings insurance for the roof.
• Home contents insurance for the gaming chair.

And yes, the infographic says clearly that “buildings = fixed structures” and “home contents = the things that would fall out if you turned your home upside down.”

Easy peasy.

What if the tree belongs to my neighbour?

Ah, yes… The diplomatic incident you didn’t ask for.

Here’s the rule:
The owner of the property that was damaged must claim from their own insurance. Trees aren’t considered negligent unless the neighbour knew the tree was diseased, unstable, or unsafe and ignored it.

So, unless your neighbour was lovingly nurturing a clearly dying tree and pretending it was ‘just going through a phase’, you’d claim from your King Price buildings insurance, and we’ll handle the rest.

What if the tree damages solar panels or my inverter?

Good news.

Solar systems can be insured under buildings insurance if they’re fixed to the property.

So, if a tree crashes down on your inverter setup or rooftop solar panels, you’re protected as long as they were correctly insured.

If the solar equipment belongs to you as a tenant, then it can fall under home contents instead.

Either way, tell us the full setup when taking out cover (or updating your cover at any point). Remember: Incorrect details = incorrect cover.

The basic claims process (in simple South African English, because we don’t believe in making life harder)

Here’s what happens once you’ve reported the incident:

1. We log your claim.
2. Our team checks your policy details.
3. We assign an assessor to view the damage.
4. You provide any documents needed.
5. We approve repair work.
6. You pay your excess.
7. Repairs are completed by our trusted partners.

You must report the incident within 30 days, and you mustn’t start repairs before the king has authorised them.

We make it simple. No riddles. No ‘hold the line for 800 years’. Just royal service, as always.

How to prevent fallen-tree disasters in future

You can’t stop a storm, but you can reduce the risk… Here’s how:

• Trim large trees regularly.
• Remove dead or diseased branches.
• Hire a professional arborist for large trees.
• Avoid DIY chainsaw experiments.
• Check for leaning trunks or lifted roots.
• Keep gutters clean.
• Ensure stormwater drains aren’t blocked.

Your garden will thank you. Your insurance will too.

Why buildings insurance with King Price is your safety net

When disaster strikes, you want an insurer who doesn’t ghost you like a bad Tinder match. With King Price, you get:

• Cover for the structures on your property.
• Protection against storm, wind, and impact damage.
• Royal service from the moment you claim.
• Affordable premiums for proper peace of mind.
• Protection for solar installations, gates, walls and outbuildings.
• Home assist for emergency household fixes (yip, we send a pro your way).

Plus, buildings insurance is often cheaper than you think and saves you from footing a repair bill that looks like a small bond.

Your kingdom, protected… for real

A fallen tree is never fun, no matter how impressive it looks when it’s lying across your lawn like it’s sunbathing. But with the right steps, a cool head, and the king in your corner, getting things fixed doesn’t need to be chaotic.

And if you don’t have buildings insurance yet? Or if you’re thinking ‘Hmm… Maybe I should actually check my cover’? Now’s the time. Chat to King Price today for buildings insurance that protects your home, your peace of mind, and your wallet. Get a quote online, get covered, and let the king guard your kingdom.

FAQs

Will King Price remove the fallen tree? The cost of clearing the tree itself isn’t automatically included unless it forms part of repairing the insured damage. Approved contractors will handle removal when it’s required for the claim.

Does buildings insurance cover damage to walls and fences? Yes, walls and fences form part of the permanent structures on your property and can be covered when damaged by insured perils such as falling trees.

What if my roof is leaking after the tree strike? If the tree caused sudden damage that resulted in leaks, that’s covered. Gradual leaks or wear-and-tear are not.

A tree fell, but didn’t damage anything. Can I claim for removal? No. There must be insured damage for a claim to apply. The cost of removing the tree alone isn’t covered.

What if the tree fell because the ground was soaked after heavy rain? You’re covered for storm-related incidents that result in sudden and unforeseen damage.