A leaking shower can start as a nuisance and end up as a domestic disaster. Thankfully, in lots of shower leak scenarios a home insurance policy can help with the expenses involved – which can be significant, especially if major plumbing work is needed to find and fix the leak (or leaks).
Yes, if a leaking shower is caused by a sudden burst pipe or other event that occurred quickly and unexpectedly – for example, a plumbing malfunction or broken pipe – home insurance can cover you for the damage caused.
Gradual water damage by a shower leak, on the other hand, is usually not covered by most home insurance policies.
You probably won't be covered for a shower leak insurance claim if:
Searching a PDS for terms like "water damage", "leak" and "escape of liquid" will help you find the specifics quickly.
Different types of insurance treat shower leaks, and the damage they can inflict, in different ways.
Home and contents insurance
With most combined home and contents policies, you'll be covered for repairs to certain kinds of shower leaks as well as any water damage they cause to your insured contents.
That is, if your shower leaked overnight and you woke up to find the escaping water had ruined some of your belongings, the right home and contents policy could cover you for the leak as well as any insured items it damaged.
Contents insurance
The assets you've insured under a contents policy should be covered against damage caused by a leaking shower – but you won't be covered for the plumbing costs involved in repairing the leak.
Home/building insurance
Most building insurance policies will give you a similar level of cover for repairing shower leaks as straight home insurance policies, but, like contents insurance, they won't cover any belongings that are damaged as a result of the leaks.
Follow these 4 steps to make a leaking shower insurance claim:
If it's a sudden and strong leak (e.g. from a burst pipe) and the escaping water could damage property or become an electrical hazard, switch off your water supply at the mains. The next step will usually be calling in a professional. You should also contact your insurer to let them know what happened.
Take photos of the affected areas while the leak is in progress. Your insurer will probably send someone to take stock of the damage and estimate the extent of the damage.
Fill out a leaking shower insurance claim by answering a few questions about the incident. Attach all relevant evidence (e.g. photographs, receipts).
If your claim is denied, you can file an internal dispute with your insurer. If that doesn't result in it being accepted, you can also file a complaint with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority.
Left unattended, even the smallest shower leak can turn into a full-blown plumbing emergency. Home insurance can't cover you in every leak situation, but it can significantly reduce the repair costs involved when water turns up uninvited in and around your shower.
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