Help- leak- dealing with insurance

[Bakergram]

I've got a mysterious damp patch showing just above the hall skirting where the bathroom (actually, the actual bath) is on the other side of the wall. Due to the layout of the bathroom I'm assuming that water has got behind the bath.

I'm going to contact our insurers on Monday but I've heard horror stories of companies wriggling out of paying. I've read through the T&Cs and it says that they will cover sourcing a leak and making good but not pipework etc if it's general wear and tear which I totally understand. Where I'm not too sure is - will they provide a company/assessor or are we likely to be able to use our own? My husband is in the trades so I would prefer using somebody we know.

Also, there is a clause stating that bathrooms have to be regularly maintained etc. Beyond sealing/grouting what else could this mean?

Making sure plugholes aren't blocked with hair is the immediate one that springs to mind.

What's your excess? It might not be worth claiming on your insurance for something small like this, particularly if you know tradespeople who can help.

Can you take the bath panel off and see what's going on? If it's the seal or the tiles need grouting it's a DIY job without having to pay your excess.

I’ve never claimed on house insurance before and was worried if I removed the panel or investigated myself before letting them
know I would be risking the insurance being void?

Excess is often higher for escape of water than other parts of the insurance so it may not be worth claiming. I would definitely look, it's not like if it's a washing machine or something like that under guarantee that you are messing with.

It might be a leak from the taps under the bath, where the tap joins the pipe with the flexible hose bit.

That won't void your insurance, don't worry. Maybe you're thinking about how it can void the warranty for electrical items if you take the back cover off?