Buildings & Contents Insurance Claim Query

junkie_ball

Hi

First admin not sure if this is the right section if not please move.

Right so with the bad weather at the weekend my parents had quite a substantial leak in their kitchen (single storey extension) that was extended some 15+ years ago. They called the insurance to claim and they sent an assessor today. Basically the water has leaked through the roof wrecking the insulation and bringing down part of the ceiling around the skylight.

After the assessors inspection he said the insurance would not cover this as it's not a leaking pipe or damage caused by the weather. He came to this conclusion as he found some silicone on the roof from a previous fix that was done some 8+ years ago and blamed it on that. On asking my mother who was the only one there and doesn't understand building in the slightest when the repair had taken place she said she didn't know but awhile ago. Im not sure if the assessor has taken this to mean a repair was carried out in the last year or so. If that was the case i can understand him offering the advised to my mother that she go back to the original builder.

At the time the roof previously leaked it was fix locally by the builder who put up the extension and we've had no issues since (hence the silicon). There has been no leak until the bad weather at the weekend do they have any options to pursue the claim with them as I am not happy with the insurances assessment. Looking at the damage a large section of the ceiling will need to be removed all insulation replaced and then a repair to the roof where the leak is which will obviously run into thousands.

Doozergirl

The question is why is it leaking?

Any roof that has a fault is going to leak during rain, so the fact it was this weekend doesn't indicate an awful lot.

Sometimes it might be because of a storm where roof tiles are blown off etc, but other times it's wear and tear or poor workmanship.

You think it's a concern that the assessor thinks it's been repaired recently, but actually, if that silicon is eight years old then that's the same or even worse! You don't repair roofs with silicon. Bad job.

A leak that is caused by poor maintenance is not the subject of an insurance claim. Nothing you've said yet suggests it's storm damage. It sounds more like the last straw.

societys_child

A bit of silicone 8 years ago?
The life expectancy of a flat roof is about 10 years, lack of maintenance is not normally covered by building insurance.

maisie_cat

I must agree that although many flat roofs last longer than the expected life, failure of a roof over 10-15 years is not an insurance claim. The roof on part of my house was constructed in 1978 and has been repaired once. If it failed I would not bother the insurance company, I'd just think I'd got away with it for a long time!

junkie_ball

maisie_cat wrote: »

I must agree that although many flat roofs last longer than the expected life, failure of a roof over 10-15 years is not an insurance claim. The roof on part of my house was constructed in 1978 and has been repaired once. If it failed I would not bother the insurance company, I'd just think I'd got away with it for a long time!

The roof is pitched not flat so think a 10 year life expectancy is slightly short in my opinion, although I do see and understand all the points put forward about a bad previous repair and understand if that is the case the insurers would not foot the bill. With that being the case do you think there would be a case to try and counter charge the original builder if the repair previously was not undertaken correctly? Granted i'm sure that would be a very long shot in actually getting any money out of them as i'm sure they'd claim the repair has lasted a reasonable time.

Just trying to cover all bases before giving my parents the news that they are more than likely are going to have to foot the whole bill themselves. As you sure you will all appreciate they are pensioners and money is tight.

Doozergirl

I appreciate that money is tight, but that doesn't mean responsibility for a building shifts onto anyone other than the owner.

If money is tight then I suspect that was the reason for the type of repair undertaken eight years ago. Of course a builder cannot be held responsible for an eight year old 'repair'. We're not even talking about an eight year old roof.