Radiator leak - will claiming put my premiums up?

lizcitral

Our biggest radiator sprung a leak and our living room carpet, although dried out, now stinks. The radiator has been replaced through a plumber friend for a very reasonable cost.

However, the carpet goes right through to the dining room, so replacing it is a large area and big money. We've got small kids so, prior to the accident, weren't thinking of renewing the carpet just yet.

I'm concerned that if I file a claim with my buildings insurance (having checked the policy, it's buildings rather than contents) next year's premiums will rocket.

What's everyone's experience of this type of thing?

huckster

Are you sure about carpets being included as Buildings under your policy ? This would not be a normal. Any Loose item, which you could take with you, if you moved home, would normally be under Contents.

Due to the excess and increase in premium that would be incurred, you should first of all get a professional carpet cleaning company in to give advice and a quote. If it can be cleaned, then it would probably be best to pay for this yourself.

Even if you tried to claim under your Insurance, the Insurers would look to get the carpet cleaned first. Replacement would be the last resort.

Quote

I suspect your very reasonable cost doesn't seem so reasonable now.

It doesn't sound like wear and tear, so if you are actually covered for this then obviously you can claim and it's fairly equally obvious that it will have some impact on your insurance.

If you could prove that your friend had been negligent then you might find that you could claim through their public liability insurers. Also see: subrogation.

I wouldn't have thought your insurers would replace the whole carpet either. Also see: indemnity and betterment.

lizcitral

Huckster - good point. Our heating system comes under buildings, but would our carpet? Is there any harm, d'you think, in making an enquiry? I know, for example, if you notify your insurers of a burglary, that it can put your preium up even if you don't actually claim.

Quote - no, our friend has replaced the leaky radiator with a brand new one for under the cost of our excess, so it's definitely not worth claiming for that. No negligence involved.

FlameCloud

Quote wrote: »

I suspect your very reasonable cost doesn't seem so reasonable now.

It doesn't sound like wear and tear, so if you are actually covered for this then obviously you can claim and it's fairly equally obvious that it will have some impact on your insurance.

If you could prove that your friend had been negligent then you might find that you could claim through their public liability insurers. Also see: subrogation.

I wouldn't have thought your insurers would replace the whole carpet either. Also see: indemnity and betterment.

What are you talking about? There is nothing in the OP's post to indicate that their plumber friend had anything to do with the original leak.

Also, how do you think insurers will replace only part of a carpet?

Quote

My mistake.

huckster

lizcitral wrote: »

Huckster - good point. Our heating system comes under buildings, but would our carpet? Is there any harm, d'you think, in making an enquiry? I know, for example, if you notify your insurers of a burglary, that it can put your preium up even if you don't actually claim.

The carpet will be under Contents Insurance. My advice is not to contact Insurers yet. Just get a cleaning company to inspect the carpet and quote for cleaning it. It isn't going to cost you too much to get it cleaned, probably less than the excess under your Insurance. If they can't clean it, then make a phone call to the Insurers. The Insurers will not automatically replace the carpet. They may see if their cleaning contractors can resolve and if not they will look at replacing the whole carpet. If the carpet is in one roll, without any joins, they will replace the whole carpet run.

Hope this makes sense.

lizcitral

Flamecloud - you're right! The radiator leaked and was then replaced by our lovely plumber friend. Quote seems to have got the wrong end of the stick. Still, it is Sunday morning...

So, misunderstandings aside, the consensus seems to be that an insurer would opt for cleaning before replacement, which means we're better off getting it cleaned ourselves.

Thanks folks.