Building Insurance claim for leaky subfloor rejected

Thomo2710

Hi,

I have my buildings and contents insurance with Sheila Wheels.

I have a damp problem which has just been discovered when i lifted up all the laminate in the living room due to popping board joints. Floor been down for 2 years.
Boards started popping about 3 months ago.

The whole of the concrete subfloor in the living room was soaked!

I dont have any central heating pipes leaking as my boiler and sealed system doesnt lose pressure.
Looking at the water service points in the path outside and the location of my main water tap makes it nigh on improbable that a mains water pipe is running under my LR floor.

Neither neighbour has had any issues with damp floors.

I believe that the DPM has failed and the moisture is rising up through the conrete slab and has now ruined my laminate and underlay.

I rang SW to make a claim - the chap took all my details and said im sorry but i dont think we will be able to cover this claim as we dont cover for:

"Damage caused by rising ground water levels"

But my damage is caused by moisture penetrating the conctrete slab and suspected failed DPM - not because of a flood or risen water levels from an increased water table.
Its by natural water flowing through soil which all houses have - thats why we use DPM's no......
I want to claim for a failed part of the building structure.
At least arrange to send an inspector out!!??

What can i do about this?

I complained and they basically said they can escalate it to a senior claims advisor but they will tell me the same early part next week.

Is this right?

I hate clever insurance wording!!!!!!

I am so stressed, my living room is ruined :-(

rs65

You need to check your policy for what you are actually covered for. Just simply claiming for a failed part of a building structure may not be covered.

You will most likely have cover for damage caused by escape of water from pipes, tanks etc..

Hopefully you will also have ‘trace and access’ cover -

Trace and access
We will pay up to the policy limit shown in your latest
Schedule for the reasonable cost of removing and
replacing any part of the buildings necessary to find and
repair the source of the leak and making good, if the
buildings have been damaged due to water escaping
from water tanks, pipes, equipment or fixed heating
systems in the home.

Faith177

I think it will be declined as the damage was caused over a period of time not by a one off event which is what insurance covers you for. Try escalating it by all means but I don't know how well that will work

Thomo2710

rs65 wrote: »

You need to check your policy for what you are actually covered for. Just simply claiming for a failed part of a building structure may not be covered.

You will most likely have cover for damage caused by escape of water from pipes, tanks etc..

Hopefully you will also have ‘trace and access’ cover -

Trace and access
We will pay up to the policy limit shown in your latest
Schedule for the reasonable cost of removing and
replacing any part of the buildings necessary to find and
repair the source of the leak and making good, if the
buildings have been damaged due to water escaping
from water tanks, pipes, equipment or fixed heating
systems in the home.

Yes i am covered for Trace and Access to the value of £5000

Is this good news?

Faith177

Trace and access will pay to establish where the leak is coming from

Thomo2710

Faith177 wrote: »

Trace and access will pay to establish where the leak is coming from

Would this be via Inspector, contractor digging up floors etc?

Or is it purely at the insurers discression?

The "Caused by rising ground water levels" is under the section of Storm or Flood.

But in my case i dont believe its either - its just natural water through the soil thats penetrated the DPM.

You need a degree to understand insurance policies!! :-)

Faith177

Each insurance company is different so best to call them explain you don't know where the water is coming from and what they be able to help you. Some will send out a contractor same may send a loss adjuster to review

TSx

If it's moisture coming up through the DPM, escape of water (and consequently trace and access) wouldn't apply as the water hasn't come from "water tanks, pipes, equipment or fixed heating systems in the home."

Unfortunately, most events of this nature (we'll term it wear and tear) aren't covered. Insurance only covers you for specific causes (perils) usually - and this won't come under any of those.

I would suspect they won't send anyone out as you've ruled out escape of water as there are no pipes which could be leaking there. You will probably need to get your own surveyor out, but I would say on the information you've given it's unlikely to be something the insurance will pay for.

huckster

It is worth reading up on this, as there have been legal cases, about rising water tables and that they can be considered as flood damage.

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/ombudsman-news/10/oct-houshold-disasters.htm

I note that your Insurers have added an exclusion to the policy and you should see whether this is 'water tight'. ( excuse the pun)