Home insurance cover large fish tank or structural damage caused by one?

recci

Will standard home insurance along with buildings insurance cover a large fish tank and or structural damage caused by one?

I am more concerned with structural damage to the building due to the large weight more than anything else. I live in a second floor flat which is an old terraced building built around 1900 with 10 foot high ceilings and large bay windows. The tank i am thinking about getting is a Juwel Rio 300 which is 350 litre, when filled with water and you include the stand will come to about 460kg :mad:

Now this isn't even big for a fish tank but my I'm slightly concerned. I dont think it will fall through the floor but it could cause damage over time. I want to place it in my living room in a good viewing position but that will mean it will be parallel with the joists not perpendicular to them and on an outside wall which I am not sure if its a load bearing wall. My dad says those old buildings are solid and better build than any modern home but its over 100 years old im not convinced. At the same time there is no way I am shelling out for a structural engineer to come out and start ripping up floor boards etc. It would cost more than the tank as its second hand and not worth it.

So if I just went for it and the worst did happen and for example the floor sagged and cause a crack in the down stairs flat celling would it be covered? or even worse the floor sagged while i was out and the tank tipped over spilling 350L of water ruining my floor and the flat below? Could you be liable due to neglect by not bothering to get a structural engineer?

Im sure many thousands of people have this same tank without any issues. Also I currently have a 180L tank with not problems what so ever. But 35ol might be pushing it.

huckster

Up to you to take reasonable precautions to prevent a loss from happening. You should find out whether you have a solid floor beneath and if so you should not have a problem.

If the worse happened, your policy if you had accidental damage would cover you for damage to your flat and any liability to third parties. I would suggest you make sure you have accidental damage cover for buildings and contents.

rs65

recci wrote: »

Could you be liable due to neglect by not bothering to get a structural engineer?

I doubt anyone would get an engineer to site a Rio 300 but effectively balancing it on one joist (or perhaps between 2) is plain crazy. I would at least be finding out where the joists are.

The base is 51cms deep so you may be able to get the front on one joist and the back on another.

If you just 'went for it', don't expect insurers to pick up the tab.

recci

I think it would be over two joists. Would putting a large bit of ply wood under the carpet where tank will sit spread the weight out a bit?

rs65

recci wrote: »

I think it would be over two joists. Would putting a large bit of ply wood under the carpet where tank will sit spread the weight out a bit?

Best asking that in a fish forum rather than an insurance one.

PasturesNew

recci wrote: »

... will come to about 460kg...

A flat panel telly and a DVD on loop of fishes swimming would weigh less.

recci

PasturesNew wrote: »

A flat panel telly and a DVD on loop of fishes swimming would weigh less.

Yes but then I dont get to feed my Piranhas the neighbours pet cat :rotfl:

FutureGirl

If having the fish tank causes structural damage overtime then that damage won't be covered as most policies exclude damage caused gradually.

If, in falling, that fish tank caused water damage to your property, that water damage would probably be covered under AD.