Insurer says roof damage is wear & tear not storm

londondoc

Dear all,


First-time poster, not a long-time lurker!


At the outset I must confess to being a novice when it comes to building and construction although I know a little bit about human anatomy and physiology.





Storm Ali visited us last week and over this weekend I noticed water dripping through one of the recessed led light fixtures in one of the bathrooms upstairs. A thorough inspection of the loft did not show any pipe-related leaks but it did reveal a damp area on the inside of the roof tiles (sloping roof) and the adjacent joist looked rather wet. My plumber very helpfully looked at the pipe-work as well (he had installed a new boiler-megaflow system for me earlier this year); his opinion was that this was very likely storm-related rain water seepage.


The insurer's surveyor arrived today- he looked at the drip, then used his camera-on-a-stick to look at the roof ; in all, he must have spent 8 or 10 minutes doing all of his inspection. Apparently for H&S reasons they do NOT go up ladders or in to lofts. Had he gone in to the loft he would have clearly seen things in a different way.


He said the issue could have been a leaky tile that caused this but it would amount to wear and tear being the cause. The storm was apparently purely incidental. Or coincidental, even, may be?!! Unless at least 2 tiles have been dislodged they do not see it as 'damage'- upon saying this, he declined the claim and pushed off. I did write down my strenuous objections on his pointless piece of paper but not having made a house insurance claim in at least 20 years, I am unsure where I stand and how much the market has been 'gamed' in recent years by these insurance providers. Should I be saying 'Admiral, shame on you' or should I be fighting this.; my instinct is to do the latter.



My house is a well looked-after 4 bedroom property in a conservation area.


Any useful advice will be gratefully received.


Best.


londondoc

Davesnave

londondoc wrote: »

Any useful advice will be gratefully received.

The most useful advice I can give is start your own thread and don't drag up one that has died. You're more likely to get answers that way.

As someone who, in 40 years, has had the odd leak or two and just one storm damage claim where 4 or 5 large tiles came off the roof, I think that's roughly how it goes. Storm damage looks like it: smashed tiles, exposed underfelt flapping etc. A drip caused by something shifting a little or slipping is harder to prove as being anything else except localised failure due to wear & tear.

londondoc

Thanks.


Newbie error!