Claiming on Buildings Insurance

eamon

Hi Folks

Anybody ever claimed on their Buildings Insurance (via Nationwide BS) for fixing/repairing a blocked external drain?

Look forward to your replies

Eamon

mattymoo

Not sure you are covered. Home insurance is not about fixing drainage and plumbing. That is down to specialist contracts like British Gas Homecare 400.

You may however have some emergency repair cover under your household policy. It only really kicks in when it would result in further damage if nothing was done. As an example, a shower head leaking is not covered because the water just goes in the bath and down the plug.

eamon

Update.

Phoned Nationwide, they said no!, much as I expected. Anyway called out a local drain company, a quick high pressure water blast and the problem is now fixed all for £53. So I'm happy. Even if Nationwide had paid up my excess is £50.

Eamon

courtjester

Technically a blocked drain is not 'damaged' and hence the cost of clearing it is not covered by a policy covering damage or loss - it is a maintenance cost. If the drain is blocked because it has collapsed, that is a different matter and may be covered as 'damage' depending on the age of the drain and the cause of collapse.

Different insurers will deal with these in different ways, there is often a fine or invisible line between damage to a drain by external influences causing collapse and collapse due to simple age. As such it is always worth contacting insurers about the cost of repair, but they certainly won't pay to have drains cleaned and unblocked without an element of the drain needing specific repair.