Home Emergency Cover versus Drain Cover?

foreversummer

Hi

I have Home Emergency Cover included with my Buildings and Contents Insurance and it mentions that it covers the drains. However, I'm really confused with the idea of "emergency", ie does this normally cover just unblocking or does it normally include permanent repairs to drains that are cracked or damaged? The policy document does not shed any light.

I live in an area that has lots of trees around and I wonder if I am adequately covered.

Any thoughts much appreciated.

Foreversummer

Oscar_The_Grouch

Hi there

This gets quite involved, so I'll try to make it as straight forward as possible.

Your Buildings insurance will cover Accidental Damage to drains. This has to be something sudden and unforeseen, such as the drains breaking and collapsing in on themselves.

The Financial Ombudsman requires insurers to consider Tree Root damage to be "accidental" for the purposes of drains.

As well as drains, your Buildings insurance should also cover other "underground services" such as water pipes.

Home Emergency cover will provide you with cover for a blockage of your drains.

dacouch

People get confused over Emergency Cover a lot, it does not cover the normal day to day maintenance of your pipes, plumbing or toilets etc. It covers emergencies only, what they normally mean by this is that if it is not fixed it will cause damage to property or people or you need it.

A good example is if your toilet is blocked and you cannot use it, when you ring them they will ask if you have another toilet in the house. If you say yes they will say in that case it is not an emergency as you can use the other toilet.

So when weighing up emergency cover remember there are a lot of incidents they will not pay out for, it has to be an Emergency.

foreversummer

Hi

Thank you for the explanations.

So really as I have home emergency cover and buildings insurance I am pretty much covered for all eventualities.

Thanks again.

Foreversummer