LONDON, April 15 (Reuters) - Britain's homes and

businesses received 4.86 billion pounds ($6.07 billion) in

property insurance payouts in 2023, up 18% from a year earlier,

as weather-related home claims hit a record high, the

Association of British Insurers said on Monday.

Weather-related home damage claims rose 36% to 573 million

pounds, with homes battered by a succession of storms last

autumn, the ABI said in a statement. High winds, storm debris,

flooding and burst pipes contributed to the losses, it added.

Insurance companies worldwide are facing higher claims from

natural catastrophes, industry sources say, which they attribute

to the effects of climate change and to a rise in building in

areas exposed to extreme weather.

Insurers are facing more storm losses than in the past in

Britain and other parts of Europe, they add, with inflation and

supply chain issues contributing to an increase in the cost of

repairs, and therefore to the size of payouts.

Winter storms in northwestern Europe in early 2023 led to

insured losses of more than $4 billion, above the previous

10-year average of $2.5 billion, according to Swiss Re.

"We continue to press the government for further investment

in flood defence and maintenance, as well as calling for changes

to the planning system to discourage building where flooding

might be more likely," ABI policy adviser Louise Clark said.

The average UK home insurance premium rose 13% year on year

in the fourth quarter of 2023, recent data from the ABI showed.

Britain's insurer-funded Flood Re reinsurance programme

helps insurers make home insurance more affordable. But it is

not available for homes built after January 2009.

($1 = 0.8006 pounds)