New Policy - How soon can I claim?

[Deleted User]

Hi all,

My building & contents policy with More Than was set to renew Sat 29th. Being a typical money saver I went through the usual steps and found a policy with Halifax for £96 for the year (saved £79 on my renewal). I sorted all this out on the 28th.

Saturday 29th in the afternoon my partner and I were heading out for the evening and were getting ready & used the shower.

When I want downstairs (our living room is beneath the bathroom) I noticed 2 large areas of water damage to the ceiling. Upon investigation I found that the wastewater pipe from the bath was leaking and, as such, we have the aforementioned water damage as well as the bathroom floor itself now being warped and the same on the landing.

I've checked my policy documentation and we are permitted to attempt a repair if it will prevent additional, more serious damage. As the leak was in an area where we have live wiring running (a fire hazard) I decided I should make the repair and replaced the seals & pipework for the plug hole and overflow so the leak itself is now sorted.

However, I now have the ceiling/floor damage and want to put a claim in. I'm just not sure if this is OK given I literally changed my policy the day before the damage. I can't see anything in the documentation about not claiming in the first few weeks - I just wondered if anyone else can shed any light on this?

I've had a plumber/tiler out that I trust to appraise the damage for my own piece of mind and he said the landing/stairway carpet will need to come up, bathroom lino up and entire bathroom suite removed so the floor can be taken up and replaced. He said this will also probably mean the bathroom needs to be re-tiled etc as some of the walls also have some warping.

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks.

InsideInsurance

When did the "event" happen?

From your description the issue happened whilst you were insured by More Th>n and so you register the claim with them and just inform your new insurers of the incident to adjust the premiums.

Be aware of the "matching set" clause in your policy - I havent checked either but as you are price rather than value conscious I would strongly suspect there is no cover as this is a very expensive feature. So if only 2 walls need to come down the insurer will only pay for that and doesnt have to pay for retiling the other two walls even if no matching tiles can be found

[Deleted User]

MoreThan policy expired on 29/09. I sorted out the new Halifax policy on Saturday 28th but didn't kick in until 29th. The "event" happened on the evening of the 29th.

FWIW - I'm quite cautious in ensuring we have adequate cover. The Halifax policy documentation states we are covered for these kinds of things.

InsideInsurance

If you think the pipe burst after the renewal then just inform your new insurers.

There is no minimum waiting period but anything near to inception of the policy is always treated with some suspicion and normally subject to more investigation.

Almost certainly there will be some argument that the pipe burst before the policy incepted given its been wet enough for long enough to cause walls to warp etc so there is probably going to be further delays for that too

[Deleted User]

The pipe itself didn't burst - looked to be a seal that had perished or was inadequate. As the issue has been fixed (the leak itself) I could feasibly wait a few weeks as it's more the fallout from the leak that needs rectifying rather than the leak itself, now. However, I've nothing to hide so don't see any reason why I need to wait - the insurance can investigate and it is simply an honest coincidence. I'm just concerned I'm going to be landed with a bill I have to pay myself for a new bathroom as I don't have that kind of cash being on a low income.

dacouch

I have a feeling Halifax have an unusual(ish) exclusion about shower seals

[Deleted User]

I've looked through all of the documentation and can't find anything that would make a claim void so hoping when I do call it should be OK. Indeed there is an express statement that says I'm covered for any water leakage of this nature - just unsure as to whether they might bounce my claim back given the policy is so new - again nothing in the paperwork/documentation that states otherwise but I'm generally wary of insurance companies

Dangermac

c0nn0r84 wrote: »

I've looked through all of the documentation and can't find anything that would make a claim void so hoping when I do call it should be OK. Indeed there is an express statement that says I'm covered for any water leakage of this nature - just unsure as to whether they might bounce my claim back given the policy is so new - again nothing in the paperwork/documentation that states otherwise but I'm generally wary of insurance companies

Providing that you can show that the damage occurred after the new policy started, it wont be a problem claiming for the damage on the new policy.

Fancy a bet that the insurer will ask a few questions!!

DM

InsideInsurance

Dangermac wrote: »

Fancy a bet that the insurer will ask a few questions!!

And that they will say the damage predates the policy and therefore it has to be claimed from last years insurer

[Deleted User]

Could be interesting. I've had no gaps in my insurance as per the terms of my mortgage so someone is paying that isn't me. I can get verification from an independent tradesperson regarding legitimacy and recency of the damage as well so hopefully that's me covered. Looking at it from their side they have every right to be cautious so hopefully they see I'm being genuine.