How to Make a Leaking Roof Insurance Claim

It is a common question to ask whether you can make a leaking roof insurance claim? Here we will look at the factors which influence whether a leaking roof is covered by buildings insurance. You will also learn what you can do to minimise the damage your property incurs from the leak. And how to put yourself in the best position to make a successful claim if you are eligible to do so.

A leaking roof is a common problem which any property owner can encounter. Not only is this an inconvenience, it can be financially costly as well as damaging to both your property and its contents. If you are suffering from a leak the first thing you want to do is to contain it.

Contain the Leak and Assemble Evidence

A detailed guide on dealing with a leaking flat roof can be found here: https://www.rjevansroofing.com/blog/leaking-flat-roof/.

If you believe your buildings insurance1 policy covers you in the event of a leaking roof you do not want to go ahead with a repair just yet. You want to contain the leak then receive an estimate for repair from a professional roofing contractor.

It is also advisable to get a report from your roofing contractor to provide evidence of your leak to your insurance company. This will include images of the leak from the roof, pictures of the damage caused and any other information relevant to your claim. If you can find a roofing contractor who provides thermal imaging2 reports this will make your claim even stronger.

We can provide both detailed reports and thermal imaging surveys when required for all types of building insurance claims, this includes leak detection surveys. The price to call us out for an estimate and report start from £300.00+VAT if you are within a 20-mile radius of our head office (CM15 9RP) and from £450.00+VAT if you are within a 50-miles radius. To get in touch call us on 01277 260 204 or email us estimates@rjevansroofing.com.

Is a Leaking Roof Covered by Buildings Insurance?

The answer to this question is dependent upon the cause of the leak and the type of insurance cover you have. If the cause of the leaking roof is down to general wear and tear or poor maintenance it will not be covered by your insurance policy. In general insurance companies expect homeowners to do their part in keeping their roof in good condition. Hence the important of regular roof sweeping and an annual roofing survey.

The instances in which your roof may be covered in the event of the leak is if it was caused by one of the following reasons:

1) Storm Damage

2) Fire

3) Vandalism

If one of the above are the cause of your leak it is worth calling your insurer to see if you can pursue a claim.

*When you take out a buildings insurance policy it is imperative to know in what circumstance your roof is covered. This small detail can save you thousands of pounds if something misfortunate happens to your roof.

Other than the damage to the roof itself the other area of concern is the contents of your property which may have been damage by your roof leaking.

Will your Insurance Cover Damage to your Contents from the Leak in Addition to the Damage to your Roof?

For any damage to your contents this will come under your buildings insurance if this is a buildings and contents insurance policy. If not it will fall under a stand-alone contents insurance policy if you are not a homeowner. Contents insurance will protect your possession from damages such as:

• Fires

• Storm

• Floods

• Theft Vandalism

• Malicious Damage

It is important to note if the damage to your roof which caused the leak was down to a storm. And the reason for the leak is deemed to be because of ‘wear and tear’ you will not have a valid claim.

Again, this goes back to the need for regular roof sweeping and an annual roof survey.

Do you Need a Professional Roofing Contractor to Help with a Leaking Roof Insurance Claim?

If you require any assistance with a claim on a leaking roof and are within 50 miles of our Brentwood, Essex headquarters please get in touch and one of our team will be delighted to help. You can call us on  01277 260 204 or email us estimates@rjevansroofing.com. We have a wealth of experience and can provide repair estimates and reports (this includes reports using state of the art thermal imaging technology).