Leaking Pipes and Water Damage

Under most insurance policies, a leaking or burst pipe and the associated damage will be covered.

This can include leaking shower recesses, basins and pipes.

If you discover that you have a leak, it is important to get urgent repairs carried out and to alert the insurer immediately. All insured people have a duty to take actions to reduce the damage caused by the insured event (this is often referred to as a duty to mitigate loss) and any delay can increase the damage bill and may be taken as a failure to mitigate loss.

In addition to the cosmetic damage caused by a water leak, a water leak can lead to mould damage which can be costly and difficult to remediate and hazardous to health.

Many insurance policies do not cover damage caused by mould. However, if the mould infestation and damage is caused by a failure of the insurer or its agent (for example, its builder) to properly fix the leak, a claim for mould damage can still be made.

Even if you can get your insurer to co-operate and assist in remediating the mould damage, this is often easier said than done. Finding trustworthy and effective mould remediators can be difficult and, because of the health risks associated with mould exposure, making sure that you get it right is very important.

If you suspect that there is mould in your home, we recommend that you have mould testing carried out immediately. We also recommend that you get in touch with us for some free initial advice on how best to work with the insurer to have the house remediated.