Leak into ceiling coming from bathroom - insurance question?

Eve1

Hi everyone,

A newbie question here. In Nov last year there was a leak coming from the ceiling just underneath my bathroom. I found some 'well rated' plumbers on the net who proceeded to cut a big hole in the ceiling underneath but didnt seem to do much else to find the issue. They werent returning calls quickly and i felt as though they were assuming it would all go through the insurance and were suggesting breaking the tiles. I ended up getting a recommendation from a builder who said it looked to be sealant related so i got it resealed and this solved the issue for a few months. About a month ago, it began to leak again, so my partner resealed as much of the wall as he could. This lasted about 6 weeks and its just started to leak again. We have had guests (teenage girls washing their hair alot!:D which seems to exacerbate the issue)

My partner thinks its a pipe issue but now given its beyond his knowledge so we are thinking to contact the insurance company directly. Do i mention i got those original plumbers in and they cut the hole in the ceiling? Im happy to pay what i can but ideally id like the insurance to cover what they can (maybe the ceiling). Im also worried they might say they want to break the tiles as i dont want a brand new bathroom when it 'looks' perfectly fine.

Could anyone advise what i should be telling the insurance company?

Many thanks!

Quentin

Always be sure you intend making a claim before informing your insurers you have experienced a loss.


(As once you inform them, irrespective of whether or not you end up making a claim the loss will be put on your record meaning you must disclose it to any future insurers you approach for a quote for insurance over the next 3/5 years depending on how long a history is required.)


(As this seems to be sealant related, maybe consider getting that done again properly before you do anything else)

Eve1

Hi Quentin

Thanks for this - so are you saying get the sealant done privately (ie not via insurance)? I had a look at my policy and it says it doesnt cover sealant issues?

Quentin

Your insurance is unlikely to cover re-doing the sealant!


As advised, check your policy wording on what is covered before you contact your insurer

FutureGirl

Most home insurance policies exclude damage caused by lack / failure of sealant.

Don't call the home insurers yet as, if you do, it'll go down as a claim.

I would get another plumber out to find out what is actually causing the leak first. If it's a pipe, then call the insurers as the water damage may be covered (but most likely not the pipe itself).

Sea_Shell

If the damage has occured gradually over time, very unlikely to be covered.

FutureGirl

Depends what you mean by 'over time'. If you're saying because it was leaking from Nov - now, then we wouldn't decline that claim as we can see that OP has been trying to investigate it and do something about it.