Home Insurance and water through the kitchen ceiling.

elliep_2

Hi. I'm new on this board so sorry if this has already been covered but I couldn't see it.

Today I found water dripping through my kitchen ceiling and onto my kitchen floor. The kitchen has a flat roof as it was an extension added to the house before I bought (extension is aprox 10 years old).

I have had a look at everything and come to the conclusion that it's the pipe for the drainage from the bathroom sink (upstairs) that is the problem.

I had a plumber come to install the drainage about a month ago. He said that the pipe that goes through the wall wasn't long enough but a few min later he finished the installation. I asked how he'd sorted out the short pipe and he said that he'd just pulled on it a bit and now it was fine.

I'm assuming that what has happened is that he's disconnected the pipe from the downpipe that it's supposed to run into so that it is now running to somewhere inside the roofing materials and into the roof. I can't see this but assume it to be the case based on what I can see and the information I have.

I called my home insurers but they say that I don't have emergency cover as part of my policy and I should call back tomorrow morning.

My question is, should I be taking this up with the plumber? Or will the insurance company want to take this up with the plumber? Am I even insured if this is cause by a tradesman that I employed?

Thanks for any help that anyone can provide.

ponymad_3

You have a few issues....
The good news - Your home insurance policy WILL cover for redecoration and the damage caused....including a new ceiling. You may need to claim on both building and contents but I m assuming you are the home owner and not renting? It will not cover the cost of locating the leak and putting right, that is what a Home emergency policy is for, although some do not pay out if the leak is difficult to locate anyway.

Re the work done... Is the plumber reputable, he should have a liability policy. I recommend calling him urgently, explain the leak, remind him of the conversation.... If he is not willing to come and sort out, I would explain you will then instruct another plumber and bill him if the damage is what you suspect.Of course it could be a coincidence.

Good luck and rememeber the Home insurance policy people will expect you to limit the damage and call someone in asap. If you cannot locate another plumber they should be able to assist, as this will limit ultimately their costs. Most Home insurance companies have 24 hr help line. I think the reason they have suggest calling back tomo is the problem is not likely to deteriorate much today.
Good luck.... With luck you wont need a new ceiling.. Get onto the plumber

elliep_2

thank you. I'll get onto the plumber and the home insurance people first thing in the morning.

I am indeed the homeowner so at least I don't need to involve landlords etc.

elliep_2

OK
Plumber fixed the leak then said that because it's a problem with existing pipework it wasn't his fault that it was broken and he therfore wanted £50 for fixing it.
He's going to be sending me a statement of cause for the insurance company and an invoice for the £50.

The leak was caused because when the plumber installed the new bathroom basin he pulled on the pipe that leads outside and removed it entirely from the larger pipe it led into. This wasn't visible under the roofing felt so only became apparent when the water started coming into the kitchen. The plumber pulled on the pipe without my permission, after complaining that the piece of pipe available for connecting ti inside the house was too short.

The plumber says that because the problem is with 'existing pipework' and not the bit he installed then the repair is chargeable.

Where do I stand with this?

I can't just pass it to the insurance company because apparently this comes under emergency repairs and I didn't tick the right box on the form for them to cover that. They will do the redecorating etc but the bit with the plumber to actually get the water to stop leaking is down to me to sort out and pay for if necessesary.

ponymad_3

HI
The insurance company is right about the repairs as I said before. So you will have to pay for the repair itself... Not remotely into plumbing myself so can t really comment on the solution and reason...
You will also have an excess to pay on your claim, my advice about getting the full decorating is to explain fully to your decorator what you are expecting. For instance the insurance company will pay full redeocrating cost inc painting the window etc as long as you don t over egg things and the quote is reasonable.