Halifax Trace and Access

RA01

Hi,

My combi boiler is losing pressure rapidly, drops from 1.5 bar to zero overnight. Gas plumber has been out and confirmed no issue with boiler, and no signs of surface leak (e.g. around radiator valves, etc). He reckons it must be a fairly sizable leak to be losing pressure as quickly as it is. This is a bungalow and all central heating pipes are underfloor, which is as far as I know, suspended timber construction.

My buildings insurance includes a "trace and access clause" (halifax policy). They have refused to support a claim on the basis that there is no visible damage, therefore no evidence that damage is occurring.

This seems utterly bizarre to me. If I could see visible damage, then I would be a lot less likely to need trace and access, as the source of the leak would be relatively obvious. From my point of view, if water is leaking then it seems likely that damage must be occurring - either saturating timbers that will eventually rot, or on to the foundations.

I asked incredulously if they were suggesting that I should wait until damage had incurred, then contact them again, to which the reply was of course "no, now that I know there is a leak, then I am responsible for repairing it as quickly as possible, before any further damage occurs". What damage, I asked, you have just told me that there was no evidence of damage.... They wouldn't budge so I asked them to put their response in writing so that I could consider making a complaint.

The exact working of the policy is:
Trace and Access: We will pay up to £5000 for any one claim for the necessary costs that you incur in finding the source of damage to your home caused by:
i) escape of water from, or freezing of, fixed domestic water installations;
ii) escape of oil from fixed domestic oil heating installations within the home.
This covers the reinstatement of any wall, floor or ceiling removed or damaged during the search.

Are they really correct in their interpretation? The trace & access clause seems pretty pointless if it only covers instances where surface damage is visible, when there is overwhelming evidence of a leak.

Thanks

David_InsDef

Hi

The challenge you face is that currently, whilst there's symptoms that your central heating system is losing water, there's no evidence that there is any 'damage' that would be covered by the policy - e,g, it's not causing subsidence or the ceilings haven't collapsed etc. The insurance policy isn't a maintenance contract or an investigative tool to find and fix the leak, it's there to deal with any resultant damage that an escape of water may have caused - but right now, you don't know that there is any. In theory, there may be a pipe fracture at the end of your garden and the water harmlessly draining away into the water table.

Unfortunately for you, they are correct when they say you're now obliged to do all you can to trace the leak yourself, before it causes any damage / further damage. Not doing so could cause them to reject a future claim.

If you traced the leak now and for example, found that the water had been leaking for some time and rotted the supporting timbers, you would possibly have grounds to ask the insurer to pick up the trace and access cost as well as the remedial work.

Regards

David

Nasqueron

I find it amusing they will (probably begrudgingly) pay out thousands if it all goes pop, but won't pay for preventative stuff that costs hundreds

rs65

RA01 wrote: »

Are they really correct in their interpretation?

I think they are. The part you have quoted says finding the source of damage

If you don't have damage then the policy doesn't trigger.

Have a read here and see if it helps
http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=197633