Home insurance- asking insurer question

cleoangel

We’ve had a quote to inspect or repair roof, due to scaffolding etc it’s quite high cost. Long story short, about a year ago a tile shifted in a storm and let water into the cavity. A roofer popped long on his ladder shifted it back, and all was good. This year we’ve had a rat visit our loft, luckily not live in it, no damage to stuff stored in there. Pest control have been and we think it’s gone, but we have a dilemma, pay for roofer to strip back tiles repair / replace felt/ membrane and sort any potential rat access points or leave it and hope a relative doesn’t pop back. But as roofer says rats will always give a way in!

I don’t know if the roof work would be covered by home insurance or not, we have buildings with accidental damage. 

I’m in two minds whether to even ask as they’ll put as an incident that I’d have to report, whether it’s covered or not. Is that likely to happen if we ask the question?

TELLIT01

I wouldn't expect preventative/maintenance work to stop rodent access to be covered by insurance. It's just something the homeowner has to bear.

user1977

If you want to know whether something is covered by the policy, read the policy. If you don't understand the policy, ask somebody else to help (like on here).

cleoangel

I’m more asking, if anyone knows if I ask the insurer will it be logged as a potential claim m/ incident for renewal regardless if I’m covered or not?

user1977

Yes, I would think it likely to be logged as an incident, which is why it would make more sense only to contact them if you are making a claim (though bear in mind that if it is an insured risk and you opt not to bother claiming, you may still need to declare it on renewal anyway).

What you don't want to do is confuse the issue by starting to chat to them about things which aren't even covered.

chrisw

I've phoned them to ask a question about whether I could claim on my policy previously but just said it was a generic question and never gave them my personal details.

dunstonh

I don’t know if the roof work would be covered by home insurance or not, we have buildings with accidental damage. 

That all sounds like routine maintenance and not something you would claim on insurance for.   

I’m in two minds whether to even ask as they’ll put as an incident that I’d have to report, whether it’s covered or not. Is that likely to happen if we ask the question?

If you speak to the insurer about it, it will be logged as an incident.  Even when they say you are not covered.   

cleoangel

thanks so much everyone, that’s what I thought they’d do. Best get saving! 

Exodi

cleoangel said:

I’m more asking, if anyone knows if I ask the insurer will it be logged as a potential claim m/ incident for renewal regardless if I’m covered or not?

Just jumping on the bandwagon - yes it can be reported as a claim, even if you don't pursue it and there is no action (been there, done that).