Leaking roof insurance

How do I make a leaking roof insurance claim?

Find out if you can make a claim

You can make a leaking roof insurance claim if it's due to circumstances beyond your control, such as a storm or natural disaster. If your roof has been leaking for years and is only now becoming a problem, you won't be covered. Your insurer will likely send someone out to assess whether the leak was due to negligence or was accidental.

Prepare your claim

Let your insurer know that you need to make a claim. Take pictures and videos of the leak if possible. Stop further damage from occurring but try not to fix it yourself or you risk jeopardising your claim.

Submit your claim

Submit your claim by email or mail and wait to hear back. Insurers can take up to 10 days to respond to your claim. In these circumstances, they should be able to help stop the leak quicker.

Will I be covered for a leaking roof?

It depends on whether or not the leak was due to an accident or your own negligence. They will send an assessor to inspect your roof.

• If the assessor believes the cause of the leak was accidental, such as damage from hail or storm-related debris, the insurer will usually approve your claim.

• However, if the assessor sees no evidence of accidental damage or finds evidence that the roof has been leaking for some time, they will likely classify the leak as being caused by inadequate roof maintenance. The insurer will deny your claim.

• Does home insurance cover roof repair?

  Yes, if your claim is successful, your home insurance covers the cost of authorised repairs up to the benefit limit in your policy or the cost of repairing your roof to the same standard as the original (new for old), as is the case with some policies.

• Does home insurance cover for water damage?

  Yes, your home insurance will cover your house and contents for water damage caused by an insured event such as a storm. But if the damage is the result of a leak in your roof that the insurer deems to be a maintenance issue or general wear and tear (which is not covered), the water damage to your home and contents will usually not be covered.

• Does home insurance cover roof leaks caused by mould?

  It probably doesn't. On top of design problems and failure to maintain your roof, other maintenance issues not covered by insurers can include problems with continuous seepage, humidity and condensation. As these are the conditions in which mould thrives, it's unlikely that your policy covers mould.

• Does home insurance cover roof leaks caused by wear and tear?

  No, home insurance policies don't usually cover wear and tear. Wear and tear implies that the roof is wearing out, not necessarily due to lack of maintenance but simply from old age. You may be able to find an insurer who will provide depreciating cover for your roof, but most home insurance policies will not cover wear and tear.

How to avoid your claim from being rejected

• Keep up-to-date with roof maintenance. There are several roof maintenance tasks that you can do to ensure your claim isn't rejected for poor roof maintenance.This can include clearing blocked gutters, flashings and debris from the roof.
• Have a roofing contractor check for repairs. They can ensure your roof is up to scratch and you won't have a claim rejected for wear and tear, continuous seepage or other installation and design problems.

How to spot a potential leak

There are 3 signs that your roof may be leaking:

• Missing shingles or tiles. You should regularly inspect your roof for missing or broken shingles and tiles, which can allow water to enter.
• Stains on the ceiling. If there is a damp spot on your ceiling, this can indicate that water is already leaking into your home.
• Choked gutters and downpipes. You should clear these regularly and install gutter guards to prevent debris build-up.

So what's the answer?

In the light of all this doom and gloom, you may well be asking yourself why bother to have home insurance. It's because it will cover you if disaster strikes your home, which is many people's largest asset in life, after all.

As for gradual water damage to your roof, the trick is to make sure it doesn't happen. Regular roof maintenance and hiring a roofing expert to rectify any design or installation problems can help prevent any issues.

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