Is damage caused by leakage covered by my contents insurance?
One evening you take a bath to relax completely. When you have come out of the bath and go downstairs, you see that there is a leak. The water has just hit your stereo set and, as a result, one box no longer works. This is obviously very annoying, and now of course you want to know if your home contents insurance will cover water damage. Most home insurance policies pay for damage caused by leakage. However, there are conditions attached to the payment.
What does contents insurance cover?
With contents insurance, you are only insured for all movable items. These are items inside the house that are moveable such as your bed, TV and couch. Depending on the type of coverage you are insured up to a maximum amount. You can use the Content Value Meter to calculate how much your belongings are worth and what coverage you need.
Insurers cover damage caused by unforeseen circumstances. So the leakage must be unforeseen. Using the example with the bathtub, it must have been in good condition. So with overdue maintenance, you cannot claim damage from leaks from your insurer.
Another example: suppose it has rained so hard that the gutter can no longer hold and the water smashes through the roof. Then the insurer will pay for this damage because it is unforeseen.
Report damage
If your belongings have sustained damage, it is wise to report it as soon as possible. You can report this to us by phone. We can be reached every working day from 08:00 to 18:00 on 085 - 029 5179.
Furthermore, you also have to fill out a claim form if you want to claim your damages. Your insurer may send an expert to your home to verify the amount of damage. It is wise to send along photos of the damage and purchase receipts. This will give the insurer a better understanding of your damage and a proper solution can be offered.
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What does insurance pay out if you've had a leak?
Damage caused by leakage will be paid only when there are unforeseen circumstances. If the leakage is caused by poor maintenance, your insurer will not pay for the damage. There are also a number of other factors that determine whether your insurer will pay for the damage. Namely, it depends on what insurance you have and what the maximum amount for which you are insured is. Want to know what your insurer will cover or pay out in the event of a leak? Then you can read the terms and conditions of your policy.
When you have damage from a leak, your home will likely have suffered damage as well. For example, your ceiling or walls may have been damaged by the water. Contents insurance does not compensate for this damage, because it only applies to movable property. If you want damage to your home to be compensated as well, then you must also take out building insurance.
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