Water Pipe insurance

Cardea

We've just had a huge mains leak on our Victorian property (with thousands of pounds worth of damage) :eek: and the insurance company paid for the repair/patching of the supply pipe but advise, as does the water supplier, that we have a new mains installed with blue MDPE piping as they won't insure for any more water leaks. I gather that this is standard practise for insurers, that this is only available once in the property's lifetime. The waterboard (SE Water) also say much the same, saying " customers will recieve one leak allowance per property".

We've had 2 quotes at wildly differing prices, (the largest almost £5K). One (affiliated to the waterboard) guarantees the pipe for 5 years (not very long, is it!?) and suggest we guarantee using Homeserve. I'm not sure what to do - clearly we don't want another leak as the current one has caused thousands of pounds of damage to our home - a nightmare!. But Homeserve have not got a good reputation, it seems.

I am worried that IF the new pipe should burst, even though newly installed, we would not be insured for further damage from our current house and contents insurance (and perhaps others too?). Should I get further insurance for this pipe - and who from? I have no idea how long MDPE pipes should last for. I'd also like to know if this leak will affect the saleability of the property.

(posted on another part of MSE forum but I think that was the wrong place)

hugoshavez

Cardea wrote: »

We've just had a huge mains leak on our Victorian property (with thousands of pounds worth of damage) :eek: and the insurance company paid for the repair/patching of the supply pipe but advise, as does the water supplier, that we have a new mains installed with blue MDPE piping as they won't insure for any more water leaks. I gather that this is standard practise for insurers, that this is only available once in the property's lifetime. The waterboard (SE Water) also say much the same, saying " customers will recieve one leak allowance per property".

We've had 2 quotes at wildly differing prices, (the largest almost £5K). One (affiliated to the waterboard) guarantees the pipe for 5 years (not very long, is it!?) and suggest we guarantee using Homeserve. I'm not sure what to do - clearly we don't want another leak as the current one has caused thousands of pounds of damage to our home - a nightmare!. But Homeserve have not got a good reputation, it seems.

I am worried that IF the new pipe should burst, even though newly installed, we would not be insured for further damage from our current house and contents insurance (and perhaps others too?). Should I get further insurance for this pipe - and who from? I have no idea how long MDPE pipes should last for. I'd also like to know if this leak will affect the saleability of the property.

(posted on another part of MSE forum but I think that was the wrong place)

I'd imagine that if you do replace the pipe, and evidence to the insurer that you have, they'll be happy to provide ongoing cover for escapes of water.

If they're not then lots of other firms certainly will be.

If you replace the pipe and water damage is repaired to a good standard I don't see why resale value would be affected.