What Happens if You Have a Water Leak in Your Property?

Escape of water, or as it’s otherwise known, a water leak, is one of the most common causes of property insurance claims in the UK. According to a survey by Leakbot, 20% of property owners have suffered not just one, but three or more water leaks! Not to mention, in 2019, 29% of all property insurance claims filed in the UK were caused by a water leak. Although this figure may seem high, when you consider the amount of pipework and the number of kitchen appliances that have the potential to cause water leaks, it makes complete sense.

escape of water

An escape of water claim can be particularly daunting and overwhelming to deal with.  This is especially true if you have little knowledge of the insurance claim process or if you are unfamiliar with industry jargon. In this article, we’ll dive deeper into what happens if you suffer from a water leak at your property and how to secure a fair settlement from your insurer.

What Causes a Water Leak?

At Property Claim Assist, we have many years of experience in dealing with all types of water leak claims. By being aware of the most common causes of escape of water, you can stay vigilant, and lower the risk of an incident occurring at your property.

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Here are some of the most common causes of water leaks that can occur at your property:

  • Frozen pipes – During the UK winter, we see temperatures falling to below freezing increasing the risk of frozen pipes. For this reason, burst pipes as a result of freezing have become one of the most common causes for escape of water claims being submitted during the winter months.

    DId you know? 

    Scotland recorded it’s coldest night of year as temperatures drop to bone-chilling -15.2C.

  • Cold water tank failure – Many older properties have cold water tanks stored in the roof space/loft. The mechanism designed in these tanks actively draws water to refill the tank after the water levels drop. However, like a lot of mechanical appliances, they can fail and cause the water to run constantly. Due to the location of these tanks, leaks often go unnoticed. This means that the water travels down to other rooms causing severe damage.

  • Appliances – An escape of water caused by a broken pipe connection is usually caused by poor fitting, loosening or wearing out over time. 

What to do if You Discover a Leak

Discovering a water leak in your property can cause significant distress, particularly if it is your first encounter with such an issue. It’s natural to feel lost and unsure of what to do next. Even if the damage appears minor, an escape of water can lead to unforeseen and costly damages that may be more expensive than you might think.

woman-checking-a-water-leak

Here’s a step-by-step guide for what you should do if you discover a leak:

Step 1: Minimise the Damage

Your insurer will expect you to do everything you can do minimise the damage. This is called mitigation. The first thing you should do if you see water pouring in, is to switch off your internal stopcock (or stop valve). If you don’t know where your internal stopcock is, close the mains stopcock outside your property. Next, once switched off, drain the system by running your taps.

Your insurance policy may not always cover gradual leaks that occur over a period of time. If you do become aware of an escape of water, address this immediately. This will help you avoid any potential issues with your insurer.

Step 2: Leak Repairs

Arrange for the plumber to repair the leak if you know its location. The cost of the actual repair is your responsibility and not covered under your insurance policy.

Step 3: Trace and Access

If you’re unsure of where the leak has originated, your policy may cover you for a trace and access investigation to be carried out.

plumber-fixing-a-sink-at-hom

A leak detection expert should be able to use a range of non-invasive techniques to pinpoint the source of the leak.

Step 4: Take Photographs

The more evidence you have to support your claim, the higher the chance of it being a success. Take photos of all damage including any damage to your household items and where the leak originally started from.

Step 5: Contact Your Insurer

Get in touch with your insurer immediately after discovering damage. This will help to avoid any delays in the process and enable your insurance company to get to work.

woman-talking-on-smartphone-near-leaking-water

Typically, they will ask you to provide the following information:

  • Your policy number

  • A description of the loss or damage

  • The date and location of the loss or damage

  • Your contact information

Step 6: Contact Your Chosen Loss Assessor

A Loss Assessor is someone you have the right to appoint to manage your property insurance claim and work in your interests. Appointing a Loss Assessor early in the process will free up your time, take the weight off your shoulders and increase your chances of a full and fair settlement. They’ll handle the entire process on your behalf so you can focus on your day-to-day life.

Step 7: Your Loss Assessor Visits Your Property

The chosen Loss Assessor will gather any available receipts and supporting documentation for items that the leak damaged or destroyed. This is to strengthen your claim and provide clear evidence to your insurer of the damage.

Step 8: Negotiate and Agree Settlement

Next, your Loss Assessor will arrange to meet with your insurance company’s Loss Adjuster to progress your claim. Loss Assessors are experts in negotiations and fully understand insurance jargon and the complexities of an insurance policy. Without a Loss Assessor on your side, negotiating an insurance claim can be extremely overwhelming and few – if any – get the settlement they’re entitled to without one. Once you agree to a settlement, the repairs will commence. Alternatively, you can opt for a cash settlement and repair the damage yourself.

Step 9: Recommend Contractors

If you choose to use one of our recommended and vetted contractors to carry out the repair work at your home/property, you will obtain our entire claims management service for FREE!

plumber-checks-pipe-vertic

That means the burden of sourcing tradespeople to carry out the repair works will no longer fall on your shoulders – a godsend to most who just want to get on with their normal lives.

Step 10: The Leak Damage is Repaired

As Loss Assessors, we find it incredibly fulfilling helping our clients. We often find policyholders struggle to navigate the confusing and overwhelming insurance claims process. We take great pride in removing the burden off our clients shoulders and seeing their lives return to normal.

How to Avoid a Future Claim

According to the Association of British Insurers, escape of water claims cost UK insurers £2.5 million a day. This adds up to nearly £1 billion a year – a figure that continues to rise.

So here’s some tips which might prevent you suffering an escape of water:

  • Insulate Exposed Pipes – Add inexpensive foam insulation to your pipes. Especially to those located in unheated areas like attics, garages, or crawl spaces can help keep water inside, above freezing point. This simple action reduces the risk of your pipes freezing during prolonged periods.

  • Leave the heating on low – We recommend leaving your heating on low, and the loft hatch open to let warm air circulate even when you’re away from your property.

  • Seal air leaks – Seal any air leaks near to pipes. This will prevent cold air from entering your property and freezing the pipes.

  • Check your water pressure – If your water pressure is too high, it can put a strain on your pipes. High pressure reduces the life expectancy of all your plumbing components, including the valves and joints, where leakages are most likely.
  • Keep an eye on your water bill – If your water bill suddenly spikes for no apparent reason, it could be a sign of a leak
  • Install leak detection equipment into your water system – This is so you can catch a leak as soon as it happens, preventing extensive damage.

  • Reseal shower trays – Silicon is prone to shrinkage and deterioration. Did you know Insurers are unlikely to cover a leak from a poorly sealed shower tray as it is considered a maintenance issue?

  • Be proactive – Regularly inspect your appliances and pipes, and fix any issues as soon as you spot them.

The Support of a Loss Assessor

Water leaks can be stressful, costly and time consuming to repair. That’s why it’s always worth having an expert on your side to make the process as smooth as possible. Not only do Loss Assessors take the strain out of your claim, but they also work tirelessly to make sure you receive the settlement you’re entitled to.

If you’ve suffered damage due to a water leak, do not hesitate to get in touch. We’re on your side and ready to help. Speak directly with a Loss Assessor today. Call us on 0333 577 2720 or get immediate assistance via our live chatbot.

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Client Feedback

Reviews from previous policyholders that have appointed Property Claim Assist to manage their claim.

We pride ourselves on managing your property insurance claim, ensuring that we take the weight off your shoulders, with a stress free process.

“Thank goodness I had these guys by my side”

After a traumatic accidental house fire I was a little lost on how to deal with the insurance and the claim. I reached out to these guys and thank god I did! Simon and everyone else at Property Claim Assist were invaluable and I honestly don’t know if I could have got through it all without them. Handling a big and complex insurance claim is very stressful and complicated. The guys at PCA explained how everything worked and guided me through it all and took up a lot of slack and a lot of the work. Thank goodness I had these guys to depend on.

Paul, Fire Insurance Claim
“Professional Handling of the Claim while I was Overseas”
Professional, timely, efficient and effective handling of a massive Escape of Water Claim in a Grade II listed cottage. Gary knows the process, has the contacts and gets things done. I was having to deal with this loss while overseas, so having the Property Claim Assist interfacing with the insurance company, surveyor and contractors was a godsend. Would not have had such a fabulous remediation without Property Claim Assist.

Dr Ford, Fire Insurance Claim, Fire Insurance Claim

“Amazing from start to finish”

Where do I start…Property Claim Assist took our case on when no one else would. They have been brilliant from day 1. We were fighting a loosing battle with the insurance company. They were 100% professional and adept from start to finish. They have been patient and empathetic and got the job done. We will be forever grateful to PCA. The experience has been life changing in many ways but we are in a massively better off position than we were before we contacted them. I cannot recommend PC Assist highly enough.

Alison, Property Insurance Claim, Fire Insurance Claim