FabSwingers.com forum: Home insurance claim declined... Gutted

By *litterbabe OP Woman
over a year ago

hiding from cock pics.

I have just had my claim declined... They say it's a gradual escape of water that has made the celing bubble and its come under the shower screen.

I had no idea till I removed the bath panel to investigate and found a no fun at all wet patch in the corresponding floor (to the ceiling), how could I have known I had a gradual escape of water untill I found my unexpected damp patch....

Now I have to get some expensive repairs done.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Insurance companies ALWAYS try to find an excuse not to pay out.

Usually, home insurers will not pay to repair the cause of the fault, but will pay for any resultant damage.

I myself would write back to the CEO threatening 'Breach of Contract' proceedings against them and threaten to report them to the Financial Services Ombudsman.

You pay an insurance premium in order that, in the event of any damage to your home, they cover the cost of repair of any damage.

You have upheld your side of the contract.

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By *litterbabe OP Woman
over a year ago

hiding from cock pics.

They are saying if it was a sudden leak they would pay but as they see it has been gradual ( although we had no idea it was happening as it was behind the bath panel) we are but covered.

I will contest it but it's harsh as we have never had a situation like this and I thought it would be easy!

Learning curve!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

They're always bastards with water ingress type issues. Had a similar thing where our shower tray was slowly leaking under the floor, which we knew nothing about until part of the kitchen ceiling below came down.

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By *litterbabe OP Woman
over a year ago

hiding from cock pics.

That's the same but the bath instead of shower.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I can see there point, its a maintenance problem, not an accident.

It would be a bit like claiming for new brake discs on your car, just because you didn't know your brake pads were low and then damaged the discs.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Insurers won't cover gradual water ingress claims as it's not an insured peril.

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By *eryBigGirlWoman
over a year ago

East Yorkshire

Must be a crap insurance company and I'd re question that. I had my hall ceiling collapse two years ago due to a slow water leak from the main water tank in the loft and they had the plumbers and the drying company down same day and the whole job was paid for by the insurance company!! New joists, loft flooring, ceiling, coving and the whole hall, stairs and landing repainted!

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By *inaTitzTV/TS
over a year ago

Titz Towers, North Notts

I used to assess claims like this for a living, spending most of my day looking at photos and surveyor's reports. Gradually operating cause was always a pain. The view was that you should be aware of a leak, as a poorly fitted shower screen (if it is the root cause) would be visible on any inspection and before the ceiling bubbled, there would be a water stain, or a smell of damp on the floorboards in the bathroom above.

This wouldn't be covered under any policy I dealt with and it would be repudiated in full. If you have AD (accidental damage) cover, the resulting ceiling damage may be covered depending on the insurer, but unless you have artex contaminated with asbestos and need the ceiling replacing, this would probably be a cash settlement for this part of the claim.

To get the full claim covered by the insurance, you would need to argue that it is a borderline claim (ie, small damage, not having gone on for long - so no rotting boards under the bath) and probably to have been with the company for yonks and so it becomes a commercial decision for them.

I wish I could be more optimistic, but this is what I spent about 3 years dealing with everyday.

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By *litterbabe OP Woman
over a year ago

hiding from cock pics.

Thank you so much Tina, there is no smell at all and until there was a bubble on the celibg no evidence at all but the guy did say we don't need to replace the whole floor.

There is asbestos in some areas of the house that were external, I'm not sure about the celing that is damaged, which gas a thin plaster coat.

I may have to lick my wounds and do the best I can with it.

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By *inaTitzTV/TS
over a year ago

Titz Towers, North Notts

It is generally pre 1990's artex that may contain asbestos. If it is just plaster then you don't have any worries, unless it is an old house and the ceiling is lath and plaster. These don't contain artex, but are a swine to do a patch repair to. By the sounds of it, the damage is minor, which is lucky.

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By *ugby 123Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

O o O oo

"They are saying if it was a sudden leak they would pay but as they see it has been gradual ( although we had no idea it was happening as it was behind the bath panel) we are but covered.

I will contest it but it's harsh as we have never had a situation like this and I thought it would be easy!

Learning curve!"

Many moons ago we had a leak that that was unknown to us which ended up with a hole in the ceiling. The insurance company paid for it to be re plastered.

I am not sure how anyone would know they had a leak until it gave way, are we all meant to have X ray eyes now

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By *litterbabe OP Woman
over a year ago

hiding from cock pics.

Exactly!

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