Water Damage and Home Insurance Policies

One of the biggest potential problems for homeowners is water damage. This can be caused in a number of ways, all of which need to be tackled as soon as they are identified in order to minimise the damage to the infrastructure and wiring of your property, not to mention the decoration. It’s extremely important that you find out exactly what types of water damage your insurance company will pay out for to ensure you’re not hit with a nasty surprise when your claim is rejected.

Much of your home insurance policy will be built around culpability. Genuine accidents, mechanical malfunctions and natural disasters will generally be covered, but neglect and a lack of maintenance will not. So, for example, if your house suffers water damage because a severe storm has broken your windows, this should be covered by your insurance policy. If, however, the water damage is a gradual process which has gone unnoticed over time, this is unlikely to be covered as it would be down to your own failure to recognise a problem in your house.

Generally, if mold has formed over a damp, water damaged area, this would not qualify for an insurance claim. This is because it suggests that the damage has been in place for a significant amount of time and has been neglected. If it is found that part of your house is entirely saturated, this would also not be covered, as water damage in the short term shouldn’t cause a vast amount of damage.

One of the most common reasons people make a claim for water damage is because of a burst pipe. This is generally covered if you’ve taken all the necessary steps to prevent this but it’s still burst. For example, if your pipe has frozen and burst despite attempts to insulate it, you will be covered. If, however, you go away in winter and leave your pipes uncovered, the insurance company will consider this an act of negligence and will not pay up. A good insurance approved contractor should be able to identify whether your specific problem will be covered by the insurer or not.

Broken appliances are another reason for claiming insurance for water damage. Malfunctioning dishwashers and leaking sinks are two of the most common items to cause water damage in a house, and generally, the insurance company will understand that this is not your fault and will be happy to reimburse you for the damage. If, however, you’ve been using the appliances incorrectly or have failed to attend to known maintenance issues, this will, again, be considered neglectful and will not be considered worthy of an insurance payment. The bottom line is, take all the reasonable steps to keep your house well maintained, be aware of any problems with damp and get it fixed as soon as possible before it’s too late to make a claim or before dangerous mold spores develop.

Carla Bruney is a property claims specialist who advises homeowners and businesses alike on the best ways to ensure swift resolution of insurance claims.