What does escape of water insurance cover? (and does it include storage costs?)
A water leak or a burst pipe can be one of the most stressful and destructive types of home emergency. It can happen completely without warning, and cause significant damage to your home and belongings in a matter of minutes. I
t’s also one of the most expensive to put right, with insurers paying out approximately £1.8 million every day according to the Association of British
Insurers (ABI).
This is why having the right home insurance cover is absolutely crucial. Most UK buildings and contents insurance policies include ‘escape of water’ cover as standard, but what exactly is included and excluded? And importantly, does it cover temporary storage costs for your belongings? Read on for everything you need to know.
What is escape of water insurance?
Escape of water is a standard element of most UK home insurance policies. It’s designed to cover the cost of repairing damage from sudden unexpected water leaks inside the home, ranging from leaking appliances to burst pipes or broken water tanks.
Common causes of escape of water include:
- Freezing weather, causing burst pipes
- Faulty or failed sealant or grout
- Deteriorated pipe joints and valves
- Faulty household appliances or heating systems
- Blocked drains, leading to water backing up
- Toilet blockages.
It usually covers structural repairs, and damage to contents (repairing or replacing). However, coverage can vary between insurers, so it’s very important to check the small print before taking out a policy.
One key thing to note is the excess. This is the additional amount you’ll need to pay to make an escape of water claim.
What does it cover?
Escape of water insurance usually covers structural repairs, including repairs to walls, floors and ceilings damaged by water. The cost of repairing or replacing personal belongings such as furniture, carpets and electronics should also be covered as standard.
Many policies also include trace and access, which is the cost of physically locating hidden leaks, fixing the problem and making good afterwards. This may involve specialist leak detection services and/or pulling up flooring or making holes in walls.
While it depends on the insurer and the policy, the following are not always covered in escape of water claims:
- Damage to drains and pipes
- Gradual leaks which haven’t been acted upon
- Wear and tear
- Poor maintenance (such as failed grout or sealant)
- Faulty workmanship
- Overflowing taps
- Loss or damage caused by subsidence or landslip, resulting from the escape of water
- Escape of water damage in unoccupied homes
- Water escaping from above-ground external pipes.
Are storage costs included?
If your home is affected by a leak or a burst pipe, you may need to move some or all of your property out of harm’s way. This is where temporary storage solutions can come in very handy, giving you somewhere safe and dry to keep your belongings until repairs are completed. But are storage costs typically included in escape of water insurance?
The answer is - it depends on your policy. Some insurers offer cover for storage costs under an ‘alternative accommodation’ clause. This is usually used to cover accommodation costs if your home is uninhabitable due to water damage, but some policies also offer it for storage costs if you need to move furniture and belongings. It’s really useful to have, so it’s worth checking for before taking out a policy.
Safe, flexible and convenient temporary storage with Kiwi Storage
If you’ve had a leak or a burst pipe, your first priorities will be to stop the immediate crisis (by turning off the water and calling in an emergency plumber) and to contact your insurer. But after you’ve done that, we can help you find a secure place for your belongings while you get repairs storage.
Here at Kiwi Storage, we offer a choice of flexible storage solutions ideal for people making escape of water claims.
This includes centrally located self-storage units in London, available to book online - plus mobile storage where we bring the unit to you. It’s filled, then taken away again to store at one of our facilities until your repairs are finished.
Mobile storage can be the most convenient option if you’re facing a stressful situation at home, as it means no driving, no heavy lifting and minimal expense.
Book your storage solution here in just a few clicks, and you can then focus on getting your home back to normal.
