Escape of Water

Water damage claims cost the insurance industry hundreds of millions of pounds every year and are thought to account for over 50% of business interruption claims. Prevention, rather than cure, is very much the answer. However, sometimes, even if all reasonable precautions are taken, leaks and bursts can still occur.

The alarming thing with water is the speed at which it can escape and the extent of damage that can be caused before the leak or burst is detected, particularly if the property is unoccupied at the time.

As a result, insurers are encouraging customers to take measures to reduce potential issues. These can include things such as:

• Regular maintenance

• Lagging pipes

• Making sure temperatures are maintained above freezing levels

• Turning off the water supply whilst properties are unoccupied

• Installing water leak detectors

However, with the national lockdowns and a very long summer, it’s likely that many businesses may not have been turning on heating systems regularly. With this in mind, you should make sure that you are regularly attending to your buildings to check that no damage is being caused. Remember to make sure that all systems are checked and in working order before switching anything back on once you are able to reopen.

To help us to progress any claim that you may need to make, the more information that you can provide in respect of the damage, will assist us in determining the best next steps to take. Our claims team will work with you throughout the process and may ask you to provide photographs of the damage, so that they can assess how severe the problem is and react accordingly. You may also be asked to provide receipts or proof of purchase or even ownership for your damaged items, such as photos, statements or instruction manuals.

Depending on the size and type of claim, there can be different companies that can be used to assist you with your situation. These can include:

• Loss Adjusters

• Alternative trading space providers

• Cleaning companies

• Surveyors/Engineers

• Contents suppliers

• Contractors

Our dedicated claims team will oversee your claim and will make sure that any valid claims payments are made, as well as ensuring that everyone involved is progressing your claim until finalised. Regardless of the size of your claim, you will have a single dedicated claims handler who will manage your claim from start to finish.

The content for this article was kindly provided by the Homecare Association and they would like to thank members, Scott Care, for their help with this article.

To find out about Everywhen's care cover, visit our care home insurance webpage, call us on 01438 739739 or email newcare@everywhen.co.uk .

Consistent with our policy when giving comment and advice on a non-specific basis, we cannot assume legal responsibility for the accuracy of any particular statement. In the case of specific problems, we recommend that professional advice be sought.