flooding/leak and insurance

naav

Hi everyone.

I was wondering if anyone could advise with the following.

I moved into a new flat almost two years ago and I'm nearing the end of my two year warranty.

I pay the factors monthly and that covers building insurance aswell.

It appears that there's a leak directly downstairs which is causing flooding or the walls to rot and this may or may not be caused by my sink or washing machine or a pipe from my flat - we're not sure yet. A guy is coming up from the builders to inspect my flat.

The neighbours downstairs have said that if it is from my flat then they would claim from my building insurance and if it is from a pipe then the builder would rectify it.

I'm new to this sort of stuff.

1. If is is my fault then do I have to pay something out of my pocket? I don't have contents insurance.

2. Can anyone please advise further as to what I should or can do.

Thank you.

naav

Hi everyone.

I was looking at Direct Line insurance and reading the policy documents. Does owner's liability mean that if any contents of my property caused damage to the property downstairs (e.g. my washing machine leaked and caused water damage to the property downstairs) then they would be able to claim contents insurance from me? Is that correct? Does that mean I would be covered?

Thank you

chivers1977

This would be covered by your buildings insurance. You will be charged your insurance excess but all of the other costs will be picked up by direct line

Quote

chivers1977 wrote: »

This would be covered by your buildings insurance. You will be charged your insurance excess but all of the other costs will be picked up by direct line

All of this could be completely wrong.

Quentin

naav wrote: »

Hi everyone.

I was looking at Direct Line insurance and reading the policy documents. Does owner's liability mean that if any contents of my property caused damage to the property downstairs (e.g. my washing machine leaked and caused water damage to the property downstairs) then they would be able to claim contents insurance from me? Is that correct? Does that mean I would be covered?

Thank you

Ignore chivers1977. (You won't be liable unless you have been proved to be negligent)

The neighbours downstairs have said that if it is from my flat then they would claim from my building insurance and if it is from a pipe then the builder would rectify it.

Again, ignore what the neighbours are telling you.

Assuming no negligence on your part, it is down to the neighbours to sort out their problems and pay for repairs/replacements themselves or via their own insurance. Your insurer would reject their claim, as (again assuming no negligence) you aren't liable.

naav

Hi, thank you

You won't be liable unless you have been proved to be negligent

1. But in the case where, for example, my washing machine or sink or shower or bath causes water leaking to someone downstairs from me, does that mean I'm liable?

2. For the above scenario, would buildings insurance or contents insurance cover me? In the latter (contents insurance), the builder said that in future if water from my property caused damage to someone downstairs, they (the people downstairs) could claim contents insurance from me.

3. What cover would insure me for damage to my windows whether accidental or someone else breaking/smashing them?

Thank you.

Quentin

1) As previously advised you are only liable if you are proven to have been negligent.

2) Same answer - your insurer will only pay out in cases where you are proven to be negligent.

3) Buildings (accidental cover might be needed for your own damage - some buildings policies do include accidental glass breakage in the standard policy)

daviejam

Hi all,

I have just had a major water leak from under my bathroom to my neighbours below.

I called out a plumber last night and they found that a fixing on one of the pipes feeding fresh water to my kitchen had failed. They suspected that it was not installed correctly.

My factor takes care of the buildings insurance for us. The factor has been contacted by my neighbour and they are sending out the their insurance company to inspect the damage.

There is a £250 excess on any claim to buildings insurance and my neighbour instructed the factor to ask me to cover this.

I havent agreed to anything other than to allow the insurance people out.

I think I'm going to have to cover the excess and the cost of the plumbers I called out last night because I haven't any emergency cover, just contents.

Can you guys confirm this please and sorry to hijack the thread, it seemed very similar.

Regards,
Dave.

Quentin

Unless you have been proven to have been negligent neither you nor your insurer are responsible for your neighbour's property damage.


Similarly you cannot be held responsible for your neighbour's excess (again, unless they can prove you have been negligent). If you get any correspondence about this just pass it on to your insurer (unanswered) to deal with.

If the plumber came to your property, and you have no emergency insurance, then you will get the bill for that.

dogbot

I think I'm going to have to cover the excess and the cost of the plumbers I called out last night because I haven't any emergency cover, just contents.

Did you personaly do something to cause the pipe to burst? If not then you are not liable for the damage and the people who have suffered the damage must pay any excess applicable on their contents insurance or buildings insurance depending upon the damage. You chose to call the plumber out so will have to pay them. You would have to pay any excess on claims for damage to your own property.

daviejam

Thanks Quentin,

I appreciate the help. Arranging some emergency insurance for future nightmares now.

Thanks again,
David.