Plumbing and drains cover

Carrying-on

Hi.

My father was paying for years for Plumbing and drains cover from Homeserve. Recently after he went into a home my mother has had to look after these things. The direct debit was cancelled and my mother isn't sure (and neither am I) whether her home insurance covers her for some catastrophe happening to the drains outside the house. Also is she likely to be covered for problems with mains water outside the house?

I rang her home insurer Direct Line. They wouldn't clarify my mother's policy although I had it in front of me. I was then given vague assurance she's covered when I asked what the basic cover is for any home insurance policyholder.

My mother isn't bothered about the extras Homeserve offer such as cover for leaking taps as I can deal with that.

huckster

Home Insurance is usually limited, as to the extent of the cover it provides for drains and water pipes. This where the Homeserve type policies can be useful as they cover the gap. Although Homeserve are not the most reliable provider of these policy, according to online reviews.

For example under the DL policy, they only cover plumbing installations in the home and not outside. Repair of sewers are only covered under the optional accidental cover and then only up to £1000. Whether drainage is covered under the DL policy, would depend on what happened to it and what cover is included under the DL policy. For some events, you need to have the optional Home Emergency cover.

Perhaps if your mother is able to phone them to throught the security questions, she can authorise you to deal with it and hand over the phone. You can then discuss the policy with DL.

*Scarlett

Some buildings policies cover accidental damage to underground pipework and drains.

This would not cover maintenance or blockages unless the blockage was caused by accidental damage ie someone dug into the water pipe and caused it to block.

Home Emergency cover on your home insurance might only cover internal pipework - you would need to check individual policies.

I have heard of companies that offer a "Utilities" cover to add to you buildings and contents that may meet your needs. I can't at the minute remember who it was that offered this - if it comes back to me I will post back but don't hold your breath!

l0u1se

If she lives in England or Wales in a terraced/semi then its likely the majority of her drains will be water authority responsibility.

Accidental damage to drains and mains water is something most policies cover as above.

kingstreet

The better quality mid-market buildings insurance contracts have "trace and access" cover as follows;-

Trace and access cover – covers the cost of tracing leaked water and oil and repairing damage caused by the investigations

and recently covered on here was the Water Companies providing one free repair to the mains supply pipe on your property free of charge. This may be worth searching for.

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-2131038/Homeserve-supply-pipe-insurance-householders-warned-useless-cover-promoted-water-firms.html

shinnchann01

Dunno what would be the policies, Home policies varies depending on services. it should be clarified at the very beginning. whatsoever, now whatever is the policy you will have to follow that. Be careful for the next time.