Claiming on your home insurance for a water leakPinpoint Trace and Access Ltd.

Claiming on house insurance for water leak

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Updated 13th August 2020

Have you noticed a water leak? Are you thinking about claiming on your house insurance? In this article we give an overview of the process for making a home insurance claim after a water leak. We’ll give an overview of the typical claims process, what you can and can’t claim for and some best practices.

Related articles: Which costs are covered by your policy?
Is plumbing covered by home insurance?

So you’ve noticed a water leak. It may be a large scale leak, in which case it would be difficult to miss. Or you’ve just discovered a smaller leak, which has lay hidden for some time and you’ve just noticed some of the damage it has caused. Let’s talk through some of the key considerations, step by step.

Should you make an insurance claim?

Whether or not you make an insurance claim will depend on a number of factors, including:

  • The scale of the water leak and the damage it has caused to your home
  • The level of insurance excess you will have to pay
  • The effect on your no claims bonus

If the damage caused by your water leak is very small, then it may not be prudent to make an insurance claim. This is particularly true for insurance policies with high excess payments, or where losing your (unprotected) no claims bonus would result in a significant rise in premiums.

However be careful, not to underestimate the cost to repair the damage caused by the leak. Even smaller leaks can lead to damage that is costly to repair. For example, a small leak from an upstairs bathroom can cause a lot of hidden damage. As the water leaks down towards the lower floor, it can damage floorboards, ceiling plaster, decorations and electrical circuitry.

If you’re unsure, a leak detection and repair specialist will be able to provide an assessment of the damage caused.

Making an insurance claim

If you decide to make an insurance claim, then you need to do it quickly. One of the most common reasons for a home insurance provider to challenge or reject a claim, is when the claim has not been reported promptly. Don’t wait several days to report your claim, report it now!

Start documenting your claim

It is important that you document all aspects of your claim. This may prove to be vitally important later down the line. Create a file and start by documenting the leak and damage to your home. Write descriptions of the damage, take photographs, log calls to your insurer and save emails so they can easily be referenced.

Detecting the source of your leak / Trace and Access

It’s possible that you do not know the exact source of your water leak and therefore it cannot be repaired immediately. It may be hidden behind a wall, underneath a floor, or within a ceiling. If this is the case then you will need to trace the source of the water leak before repair works can begin.

Some home insurance policies include ‘Trace and Access’ cover. This will allow you to reclaim the cost of using a specialist to trace the source of the leak and expose it. Please note that often this does not include the cost to repair the leak, only to locate and expose it.

Repairing the water leak

It is important that you repair the water leak as quickly as possible. The longer the leak exists, the more damage it will do to your home. Your insurer will want you to demonstrate that you have taken reasonable steps to minimise the damage caused by the leak. Repairing the leak quickly is an important part of this.

Please note that many insurers will cover the cost of repairing your water leak. Many insurers will only compensate you for the cost to repair the damage caused by the leak, not the repairing of the leak itself. So be prepared to pay a specialist to repair the leak for you.

Agreeing the cost of repairs

The next stage of the process is to agree with your insurer the cost to repair the damage to your home. In many cases your insurer will ask you to provide quotes from multiple companies to repair the damage. In some cases they may recommend that you use a specific company. However, remember that as long as the cost is reasonable (and in line with other companies) you can choose the company that you would like to make the repairs.

In some cases your insurer will send a representative (a ‘loss adjuster’) to assess the damage to your home. Their job is to ensure that your insurer is not overpaying for repairs and that the repairs included are justified within your claim. Remember to keep all of your associated documentation and correspondence.

Starting the repairs

You may have to negotiate with your insurer (and their loss adjuster) before you are allowed to proceed with repairing the damage caused by the leak. Once a cost has been agreed, then repairs can commence. As your progress through the process, keep adding to your claims file. Document the repair process, take photographs and note communications with your repair company.

Completing repairs

Once repairs are complete, you will likely need to sign documentation to confirm you are happy with the repairs and that your case can be closed. Your insurer will then arrange for a payment to be made, either to you directly or to the company who have provided the repairs to your home. If payment is made to you, you should arrange for this money to be promptly transferred to the repair company.

Things to bear in mind

Act quickly

Don’t delay reporting your claim and repairing your leak. Remember that you need to demonstrate you have done everything reasonable to reduce the damage to your home.

Log everything

It is important to keep a ‘trail’ for your claim. You should start by documenting the leak and damage to your home, and follow this through all of the way to the end of your claim. Create a folder which, at a minimum contains the following tabs:

  • Your water leak: Include notes and photographs of your leak and the damage to your home
  • Correspondence with your insurer: Save all emails, letters and log telephone calls that have been made or received
  • Cost to repair: Save quotes from repair companies and correspondence with your loss adjuster
  • The repair: Take notes and photographs as repairs are made to your home
  • Misc: There will probably be other types of correspondence, keep notes of them here

Common reasons for challenges to your insurance claim

Most home insurance claims are processed without undue hassle or delay. But approximately 10% are challenged or dismissed by an insurer. Here we discuss some of the common pitfalls that can be avoided when making a claim.

You do not act quickly enough

As we have mentioned several times, you need to act quickly to report your claim and repair your leak. This is one of the most common reasons for rejecting a claim. You need to demonstrate that you have acted quicky to both report the claim and minimise the damage caused by the water leak.

You have not taken reasonable steps to prevent the leak in the first place

You should have taken reasonable steps to keep your home in a good state of repair. This reduces the chances of a water leak. For example; if you have leaking water from your bath, but have not maintained the bath seal, then this may be cause for your insurer to challenge your claim.

Some examples include (but are not limited to):

  • Have you kept bath/shower seals in good condition?
  • Has your roof been maintained and checked at regular intervals *?
  • Have you maintained your central heating system?
  • Have windows been properly maintained?
  • Are your appliances and their connections in good working order?

* If you have a flat roof, your insurance policy may require you to get your roof inspected at regular intervals (defined in your policy).

What you can’t claim for

The cost to repair your leak

Many home insurance providers will not cover the cost to repair your leak. They will only cover the cost to repair the damage to your home caused by the leak.

Damage not caused by the leak

You cannot claim to make repairs to your home, where the associated damage was not caused by your water leak. Your insurer will only cover the cost to restore your home to it’s previous condition.

General ‘wear and tear’

You cannot claim to repair items that have suffered general ‘wear and tear’. A specific incident must have occurred, which forms the basis for your claim. For example you cannot claim to maintain your roof or replace tiles that may become dislodged or damaged by weather, naturally over time.

Blocked drains

In the majority of cases blocked drains are caused by human error, for example using the drains to dispose of items that are unsuitable for drain disposal. There may be some exceptions to this case, however the vast majority of blocked drains will not be compensated by your insurer.

Your personal time managing your claim

You cannot claim compensation for the time it takes you to start and manage your insurance claim. The time taken can be substantial so you may wish to consider using a repair company with experience in water damage repair.

Summary

Providing that you have maintained your home to a reasonable standard, reported your claim quickly, document your claim and are responsive to your insurers requests, then your claim should be processed quickly and without unnecessary hassle. However, if you are experiencing difficulties, why not contact our team of experts who may be able to help?

What is Trace and Access cover?Pinpoint Trace and Access Ltd.

What is trace and access cover?

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Trace and Access is often a misunderstood term, or a term that you may not hear of until you need it. In this short article, we explain what Trace and Access is and what it includes.

Trace and Access is a type of cover offered in a home insurance policy. It covers the cost of tracing the source of a water leak, exposing it (so that it can be repaired) and the subsequent damage caused by this process. However, it does not include the repair of the leak.

If you have a water leak at home, it may be obvious where the leak is coming from. For example you may be able to actually see water leaking from a visible pipe. However, on many occasions the source of the water leak may not be visible. It may be hidden behind a wall, in a cavity or beneath a floor. You may only be able to see the damage caused by the leak, for example a damp patch on your ceiling.

In these later cases, it may be costly and time-consuming to locate the source of the leak. Specialist equipment may need to be used to accurately pinpoint the source of the leak. In some cases, some exploratory work may need to be undertaken – for example removing floor boards.

Having Trace and Access cover as part of your home insurance policy means that your insurer will reimburse you for the cost to locate and expose your leak. Exposing your leak will allow an assessment of the damage caused and for the leak to be repaired.

Does Trace and Access include the cost of repairing the leak?

No, Trace and Access only covers the cost to locate and expose a hidden water leak (plus any damage caused by doing this). There is sometimes a maximum value that an insurer will pay out, for example £5,000. But this varies between insurance companies and policies. So it is best to check your policy documents or speak to your insurer to clarify what you are covered for.

Does it come as standard in all policies?

No, not all home insurance policies include Trace and Access cover. Although many policies do include it. Check your policy documents or speak with your insurer if you’re unsure if you have this cover.

What can I do if I don’t have Trace and Access cover?

You can still use a water leak detection specialist to locate the source of your leak. However you may not be able to recover these costs from your insurance company.

Will my insurer pay for the cost of Trace and Access directly?

In most cases, no. You will likely pay the your chosen company directly once your water leak has been found and exposed. The company will then provide you with a written report to submit to your insurer. Your insurer will then reimburse you for the cost.

Is plumbing covered by home insurance?Pinpoint Trace and Access Ltd.

Is plumbing covered by home insurance?

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One of the most common questions (and sources of confusion) our clients have is whether the cost of plumbing is covered in their home insurance policy. In this article we answer this common question and several related questions.

If you’ve suffered a water leak, then it’s likely you have a damaged water pipe. As part of the process to repair your home, your leak will have to be repaired. Many customers assume that the cost to repair a leaking water pipe is included in their home insurance policies. However, in many cases this is not true.

Many home insurance policies include the cost of repairing the damage caused by the leaking pipe. For example repairing damage to floorboards, plastering, decorations and electrical circuits. They do not cover the cost to repair the leaking pipe itself. In short, in many cases you are liable for plumbing costs.

Why is this?

Many insurers consider burst or damaged water pipes a result of negligence in maintaining your home, or the result of general ‘wear and tear’. Some advise that you should regularly check your water pipes for signs of degradation and pro-actively maintain them.

What if the pipe was frozen or damaged by frost?

Your chances may be better if your water pipe started to leak due to freezing or frost. Some home insurance providers will cover the cost to repair water pipes under these circumstances.

Can I get plumbing cover on my home insurance policy?

Some policies may cover plumbing costs, although this is far from guaranteed – many do not. Some insurers also offer ‘home emergency cover’. This may or may not cover the cost of an emergency plumbing service. Speak to your insurer or check your policy for more information.

What about accidental damage?

The cost of plumbing may be covered (in some circumstances) if you have accidental damage cover. For example if you are doing home improvement works and accidentally damage a water pipe, then your insurer may cover the cost of repair. Again, you need to check your policy or speak with your insurer.

How much does trace and access cost?Pinpoint Trace and Access Ltd.

What are the costs associated with Trace and Access?

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In this article we take a look at how much Trace and Access costs, what it covers and what it doesn’t cover.

Trace and Access costs will vary between providers. Costs normally range between £400 and £600, excluding VAT. Find out more and book an appointment.

What does Trace and Access cover include?

Trace and Access cover allows you to reclaim the costs of locating and exposing a water leak from your insurance company. A Trace and Access specialist will use a number of techniques to pinpoint the source of a water leak and then expose the leak – so that it can be examined and later repaired.

If your home insurance policy includes Trace and Access then you should be able to claim back the cost of tracing the leak, exposing it and repairing the damage (if any) caused by the process. This is normally capped at a maximum value, for example £5,000 – although it is important to note that this can differ by insurer.

What isn’t included with Trace and Access cover?

In the most of cases, Trace and Access cover does not include the cost to repair the leak. It only includes the cost to locate the water leak, expose it and repair any damage caused by that process. It wouldn’t, for example include the cost of repairing the leaking pipe – although some insurers may cover this cost.

Pinpoint Trace and Access Ltd.

Is Trace and Access the same as leak detection?

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There’s often some confusion between the terms ‘Trace and Access’ and ‘leak detection’. Are they the same? Or if not, how do they differ? We take a look at the key differences between the two terms.

Water leak detection

If you have a hidden water leak and need to find the exact source of the leak, a water leak detection specialist can help. For example you may have noticed a discoloured area on a wall (a tell-tale sign of a water leak). These kinds of leaks may be buried beneath floors, located deep within walls or within cavities.

A leak detection company will use a range of techniques, each designed to pinpoint the exact source of a water leak. Some of these techniques will be non-invasive, for example thermal imaging. Although in some cases, a small amount of damage may need to be done to locate the leak.

Trace and Access

Trace and Access is not exactly the same as water leak detection. It is a type of cover included in a home insurance policy, which allows a home-owner to reclaim the cost of locating the source of a water leak, exposing it and repairing the damage caused by the Trace and Access process. This is typically up to a set figure, for example £5,000 (although this can vary by policy).

A Trace and Access specialist will use the same methods as a water leak detection specialist to pinpoint the source of a water leak. Then in addition, they will expose the leak. Exposing the leak will allow the leak (and the damage it has caused) to be examined and subsequently repaired.

Trace and Access isn’t included as standard in all home insurance policies, so check with your insurer if you’re unsure.

The cost to repair the leak and associated damage

Neither, Trace and Access or leak detection services typically include the cost to repair the leak. This is an additional service which may have to be paid for separately. Although it is important to note that some insurance policies will cover this cost. The cost to repair the damage the water leak has caused will usually be covered by the home insurance policy under an ‘escape of water’ clause.