Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

What is the point of insurance then?

26 replies

katmarie · 21/01/2021 12:27

I have house insurance, buildings and contents, and this morning I got up to find water coming into my utility room after all the rain last night. Obviously something is leaking, likely the roof. No worries, as I say, I have insurance.

So I call the insurance company who say, no sorry, because last night's weather doesn't fit our criteria of a storm, your roof is not covered. So what is the sodding point of having insurance then? I'm so annoyed now. Any suggestions on what to do next?

OP posts:
Fufumuji · 21/01/2021 12:28

It sounds like you don't have very good insurance?

QuestionableMouse · 21/01/2021 12:29

I had the same only they kept trying to tell me it wasn't covered because it was considered an act of god.

I did eventually get them to pay but it took lots of hounding them.

LIZS · 21/01/2021 12:29

Often the source of the problem is not covered but consequential damage is.

raspberrysundaes · 21/01/2021 12:30

Sounds like they're just trying their luck.

It's all over the news that it's a storm Hmm

bigbluebus · 21/01/2021 12:31

Sounds like they're saying it's due to wear and tear - that's their usual cop out - because it wasn't caused presumably by roof tiles coming off causing it to leak.

dementedpixie · 21/01/2021 12:31

Have you sustained damage due to the water or were you expecting them to come and fix your roof? Maybe contact a builder/roofer and see if they can sort out your roof issue

kirinm · 21/01/2021 12:33

If the water has come in because you haven't maintained your roof, then fair enough. If the roof was damaged as a result of the storm then depending on your policy wording, you can challenge them.

Them saying 'no' doesn't have to be the last thing.

LonelyBlueBauble · 21/01/2021 12:33

We had something similar but knew not to bother ringing them, they won't pay for the roof but would cover damage to stuff inside the house

The roof is considered to be a maintenance thing, so slipped or cracked tile or ridge tile.

A storm would possibly drive water under tiles hence why your insurance company is saying it wasn't a storm.

We had emergency cover for inside the house, we had a leaking hot water tank (thank you vendor for knowing this and telling us when they gave us the keys, arseholes) I contacted emergency cover, all they do is look at it and say, yes it is leaking, let me just turn off that water to the tank and I'll be on my way, you will obviously need a plumber to replace the tank. We were like WTF?

Pyewhacket · 21/01/2021 12:34

Look at the small print in your policy document. Escalate it within the management structure of your insurance broker. Threaten to put it all over Facebook. Dont use them again and be extra careful when you renew your policy.

Original poster
katmarie · 21/01/2021 12:36

The policy is with Bradford and Bingley, and includes all of their optional extras, and emergency assistance as well as esxtended accidental damage. I make a point of buying home insurance from trusted brands, and I happily pay a higher premium for better cover, but apparently that hasn't worked out so well this time.

I'm just not sure what to do now, I've had a look online and a quote for a roofer to come and even have a look is likely to be into the hundreds, if not thousands. Money I don't have, and the reason why I have insurance.

OP posts:
kirinm · 21/01/2021 12:36

@Pyewhacket

Look at the small print in your policy document. Escalate it within the management structure of your insurance broker. Threaten to put it all over Facebook. Dont use them again and be extra careful when you renew your policy.
Escalate it by all means but if it falls outside the terms of the policy, that isn't the insurance companies fault.
RoseHarper · 21/01/2021 12:38

If the water has got in due to lack of maintenance then it wont be covered, a roof in good condition should not allow water to get in. When did you have it last maintained and how old is the roof? You really need to find out how the water has got in first, get a roofer out to check, read your policy and then call them back if you think it's something they should be covering.

dementedpixie · 21/01/2021 12:38

But if the rain/storm didn't cause the roof damage and it was there already then its a maintenance issue not an insurance issue.

RoseHarper · 21/01/2021 12:40

An insurance policy isn't a maintenance contract, it only covered specific insured events.

Fufumuji · 21/01/2021 12:48

It's all over the news that it's a storm hmm

Well, its a storm where it is a storm, that's on the news. But it's not a storm everywhere and might not be where OP is.

Also maybe the roof was dodgy before the storm/not storm and that's the real issue?

Original poster
katmarie · 21/01/2021 12:54

As far as I know the roof was in good condition, water has never come in before. I'll have to dig out the paperwork for any maintenance that might have been done on it. I know it had some repairs done within the last 10 years, because there was a fire and it had to be put right. All of that has been declared to the insurance company. I think I'm just fed up because you sort of assume these things are covered when you get insurance, it's an unforseen event, water coming in after a storm. Hence my title really.

OP posts:
Original poster
katmarie · 21/01/2021 12:56

And it absolutely belted it down here last night, ironically we were looking outside and worrying about the drains overflowing and flooding the house, never thought it would be the roof going.

OP posts:
SeasonFinale · 21/01/2021 13:04

Yes it is usual for the source of the damage not to be covered if it is merely a maintenance issue but for consequential damage to be covered (as a previous poster said). So if you need to repair the roof that is your cost, but if the ingress of water has damaged any decor and it needs redecoration or anything that got wet needs actual replacement then those costs would be covered.

Original poster
katmarie · 21/01/2021 13:07

Also yes there is damage internally the ceiling and the wall of the utility room and the cupboard on the wall are all wet and stained. Fortunately the patch is over the sink so was dripping into there, so no damage to the floor.

OP posts:
ShesMadeATwatOfMePam · 21/01/2021 13:10

If they haven't looked at it how do they know it's not covered? Complain and insist they have another look at the claim.

Original poster
katmarie · 21/01/2021 13:35

Ok so I can claim for the internal damage and they are sending an assessor out to look at it. But what is the point in fixing it if the roof isn't fixed? And what on earth do I do about the roof, I really don't have the money for it to be fixed? (Absolutely not a begging thread by the way, I'm not hard up, just don't have an emergency fund).

OP posts:
SeasonFinale · 21/01/2021 13:49

Yes, you must get the roof fixed first because (a) as you say there is no point to sort out the interior damage if it happens again and (b) if you do not fix it they will not cover you for any further damage as a result of it.

It may be a guttering issue or even one slipped tile. When we had water coming into our downstairs loo it was because the guttering was blocked.

Call someone out to look and quote? You may be pleasantly surprised. The smallest issue sometimes lets loads of water in.

kirinm · 21/01/2021 13:52

Nobody can tell you whether you can claim because they've not seen the policy wording. That is what you need to read. Quote it here by all means but don't rely on someone on MN telling you because the policy wording is key.

2bazookas · 21/01/2021 13:53

If your last roof maintenance/repair was 10 years ago, that may explain why heavy rain has now penetrated missing or proken tiles/broken flashing.

The small print of a policy sets out the level of care and protection required from the owner. For instance, ours provides cover against theft of contents But ONLY if I have complied with the insurers security conditions.

NotDavidTennant · 21/01/2021 13:54

I'm just not sure what to do now, I've had a look online and a quote for a roofer to come and even have a look is likely to be into the hundreds, if not thousands.

I've never heard of a roofer charging just to come out and quote.