Is leakage covered by building insurance?
Building insurance is purchased to protect your home from impending dangers.
Building insurance is taken out to protect your home from imminent dangers. Building insurance also provides coverage for damage caused by a leak, unless it is a leak that you could have prevented.
Is roof leakage insured on a building insurance?
Despite the fact that roof leakage is insured, it is important that you take measures to limit the (water) damage. Tackling the cause immediately (where is the water coming from) and getting your belongings to safety. In addition, you would do well to report the damage to the insurer as soon as possible and, to ensure that you are reimbursed the correct amount, it is useful to take photos or videos of the damage.
Any repair costs to the roof or gutter are not covered by building insurance.
Leakage through the shower
In half of all cases, leaks are caused by sealant joints in the shower that are no longer watertight. So it is important to check and touch up your sealant joints regularly, especially since damage due to overdue maintenance is not insured. You can recognize this type of leakage because there are drops hanging from the ceiling after someone takes a shower, and this does not get worse when you run the water from the shower head directly down the drain. When the leak does get worse, your drain line is broken.
If you are constantly experiencing shower leaks, not just after showering, then your supply line is probably broken. With a broken supply or drain line, it is necessary to immediately turn off the main valve and call a plumber. Damage from a broken supply or drain line will be covered by your home contents or building insurance.
Leakage through the roof
If there is a roof above the leak, this is most likely the cause of the leak. Leaks are especially common on flat roofs. The process of frost and thaw creates cracks in the roofing, allowing water to seep in. Another common cause of leakage on a (flat) roof is a faulty drain line. When it is not optimal, water stays inside. So when there is water damage through the roof, it is important to make sure that your drains or gutters are not blocked. Other major causes of leaks are holes in the roof lead and various defects in the chimney.
No home insurance. Does the home insurance cover water damage?
If you do not have buildings insurance, it is still possible that contents insurance can pay for water damage. Read our article: Water damage and contents insurance.
Home leakage insurance
Do you have a leak in your home? Insurance companies can vary quite a bit when it comes to coverage in the event of a leak. It is wise to carefully compare the terms of different home insurance policies. Want to know what your home insurance policy covers in the event of a leak? Then check the policy conditions.
Home leaks can cause a lot of inconvenience and (unforeseen) costs. If you discover the leak only after days (or weeks), for example after a vacation, the leak may have already caused a lot of water in the house. If you discover water in the house, it is wise to shut off the water supply immediately, by turning off the main valve. This valve is located where the water line enters your home, usually in the meter box or basement.
Are you insured through Alpina? You can report your claim online or contact us by phone.
Want to know what else buildings insurance covers? Then click here for more information.
Causes of leakage
Is leakage covered under the building insurance or not? In principle, leakage is covered, but there are a number of conditions.
Damage caused by leakage is covered by the building insurance if it is caused by one of the following:
Leaks in the central heating system, water pipes or installations connected to them.
Leaks caused by freezing of central heating or water pipes.
Damage caused by a neighbor's leak is not always covered. Should your building insurance not cover this, you may be able to recover this damage from your neighbor's liability insurance.
Due to leakage of roofs or gutters.
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