Escape of water damage is said to be one of the most common forms of domestic property damage claims. According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), insurers pay out approximately £1.8 million for escape of water claims every day.[1]
But what constitutes an escape of water and how does this differ from flooding?
Escape of Water Damage
Escape of water is the term used for a leak within your home. This could be from a blocked drain, faulty dishwasher, or a burst pipe.
If water has escaped from where it normally flows within your property and this has caused damage, your insurer is likely to deem it an escape of water claim.
Flooding
On the other hand, flooding or flood damage is caused by an ingress of water into your property from an external source. For instance, if a river nearby burst its banks due to heavy rain causing damage to your property, this would be regarded as ‘flood damage’.
Claim Focus
One policyholder in South East England experienced an escape of water first-hand when their toilet began to leak during flushing. This caused significant damage, not only to their bathroom, but to the ceiling of the flat below.
This is were Aspray stepped in…
Jack, an Aspray Loss Assessor in the south, conducted an initial survey of the damage and found that not only had the leak caused damage to the flooring and ceiling below, but the joists between the two flats where suffering from dry rot, something that could not be fixed by drying out alone.
Once all the damage had been assessed and documented, Jack set to work negotiating the claim with the insurer to ensure that the settlement agreed covered all necessary work to restore the property to its pre-loss condition.
By instructing vetted contractors, Jack project managed the repair works to both flats including replacement of flooring, ceilings and redecoration of the rooms.
How to Access the Aspray Service
If you suffer from an escape of water, flood, or any other insurable incident to your property, contact Aspray on 0800 077 6705 to arrange an appointment with one of our Loss Assessors at a time to suit you.
For more information about the Aspray service and to obtain a voucher for £100 off your excess (terms and conditions apply), visit our website at www.aspray.com.
[1] https://www.abi.org.uk/news/news-articles/2018/12/is-water-damage-covered-by-insurance/