Another leak and I want to sell...

[DiscoStusMoonboots]

Not the most admirable topic for a post, but there we go. I currently live in a flat I'm desperate to sell. A few years ago we had a major leak - all resolved according to the builders. Until, that is, another (comparatively very small) leak was discovered yesterday in the same room.

I'm now done with this place and want to sell on as soon as the work is done. My question is - would you claim this one on insurance or self-fund/go after the builders? I'm concerned that disclosing two leak-related claims on insurance in a matter of a few years will put off buyers... WWYD?

It depends how much it would cost as to whether I’d pay or go through insurance.
How long is ‘A few years ago’? It’s unlikely the builders could be held accountable, even our local water board only guarantees any repairs they do for 12 months.
How would prospective buyers know about your insurance claims? I’m not sure I’m remembering that coming up any time I’ve moved tbh.

Insurance claims have to be declared on form TA6.

If I was a buyer and saw one claim for a leak a few years ago I would not consider it significant. If I saw two claims for leaks, including a recent one, it would make me think.

Think at that point I would want much more clarification and. possibly some sort of inspection, before proceeding to exchange. Might vene pull out depending on what I got in terms of further details about the leak.

If it is relatively minor this time and you are desperate to sell then consider taking the hit. As others have said, you probably won't get far with the builders given the amount of time that has passed, but the risk to any sale going through will much lower.