Below, we discuss three common home insurance claims: what they are, how to avoid them and if they’re covered.
We’ll go over:
Boilers are commonly involved in household claims. Leaking and dripping are frequent issues, while loss of pressure and problems with efficient heating also top the list.
Whether it’s a result of burst pipes or a leaky washing machine, sometimes escape of water damage is unavoidable, and even prevention methods may not always work.
Homeowners claim for different types of escape of water damage – everything from ruined furniture to a flooded living room.
It’s a major part of some cover types, like trace and access cover, which deals with sourcing the leak.
Not all escape of water claims are severe. Smaller cases need cleaning and drying out, which you can speed up by opening the doors and windows to help air circulate.
If you suspect a leak and it’s safe to do so, follow these steps:
For leaks that need more attention, contact a professional to strip out damaged furniture and fixtures and start the repairs.
Getting your home back to normal after escape of water can take time, so you may need to seek alternative accommodation during the repair process, depending on how severe the damage is.
Here are a few ways you can help prevent escape of water:
House fires can be impossible to predict, but many are caused by misusing appliances, cooking or electrical problems such as poor wiring.
Make sure your smoke alarms are up-to-date and working; it’s a simple, quick test to make sure the batteries are functional. You should aim to change them at least once a year.
While these incidents are uncommon, they can be very costly. Having home insurance can cover the costs should the worst happen.
Knowing which cover is right for your home can be confusing, so we’ve created this guide to buying home insurance to make things clearer. If you’re still unsure, speak to your insurer.
If you already have home insurance, then Home Emergency cover may work for you too.
It’s an add-on that protects against unexpected incidents by temporarily repairing the damage after total failure, which is when something stops working for good or for a long time.
It provides:
The cover limit for the above is £500.
You just need to report the incident within 48 hours. Be sure to read your policy book before claiming, too.