Roof Leak Detection for Insurance Claims | When to Call a Specialist

Most home insurance companies will cover the cost of a roof leak as long as they are existing customers, the leak is due to a sudden, unexpected event like a tree falling on the roof or storm damage. However, the insurers won’t pay out if the leak is due to wear and tear or home emergency repairs due to the roof being poorly maintained. So it’s important to get repairs done to your roof regularly whenever they are needed. Most homeowners insurance policies will cover roof leaks.

If you suspect your roof is leaking it’s important to have a roof leak water detection company come and locate the leak, this can help identify if the cause of leak and the remedial costs would be covered by your home insurance.

Does Home Insurance Cover Roof Leaks In Blocks of Flats?

If you live in a flat and the roof starts to leak, as long as the freeholder of the building is covered with a home insurance policy on the building it will be covered for sudden and unexpected roof damage.

The freeholder is the person who owns the building and the land the building is on. It is important for the people who live in the building to make the freeholder aware in the event of any wear and tear repairs needed to the roof of the flat as they don’t have to carry out regular checks themselves.

This is essential as like houses if the flat’s roof hasn’t been well maintained the insurance company will not cover the damage as it will be down to wear and tear and poor maintenance.

Will Insurance Fix A Roof That Is Leaking?

Yes, insurance will fix a leaking roof as long as certain criteria is met, for instance, the damage needs to have been a result of severe weather, storms or a fallen tree, your roofs need to have been kept maintained and not show signs of wear and tear, and of course, you need to have the correct type of home insurance, this falls under the contents insurance side of your policy.

Buildings insurance covers the structure of the house, contents insurance covers the belongings inside the house.

When Isn’t A Roof Leak Covered By Home Insurance?

A roof leak isn’t covered by home insurance when the leak has occurred due to poor maintenance. As the homeowner it is your responsibility to make sure your property and roof is kept in good condition. Disputes with your home insurance company can arise if the insurer determines that the damage to your roof could have been prevented if the roof was in a better state of repair to begin with, even if the damage that caused the roof leak was due to a storms or a fallen tree.

Therefore it is advisable to keep a record of receipts of any maintenance work that you’ve had done on your roof to significantly help the customer make a claim. ADI Leak Detection uses non-destructive water leak detection technology to further assist your claim by providing your insurance provider with a detailed report on where the actual leak or leaks are coming from.

How To File A Leaking Roof Insurance Claim

As soon as you notice damage or a leak to a roof or roofs you need to get in touch with your insurance provider. Before you do that though it’s important to take any necessary steps to stop the leak from causing more damage to your property. If it is a large leak which is very bad or an emergency situation, it’s advisable to call a professional straight away.

If it is a smaller, more manageable leak, put down towels and buckets to collect the leaking water to reduce the amount of damage that the water can cause to your home. Call your insurance provider and give as many details as you can about the leak. Then wait for your insurer to give more details on the next steps to take.

Collect Photographic Evidence Of The Roof Leak

Photographic evidence is vital in making a claim to your insurer. Take as many pictures as possible of the damage. Take photos of the common roof leak locations such as around skylights, roof valleys and roof vents. If the leak and damage was caused by severe weather like a storm take a screenshot of the weather report.

Collect together any records and receipts you have showing work you have had done on your roof to keep it maintained. Remember the more evidence you can collect the easier your insurance claim will be.

Report The Leak To Your Home Insurance Company

Reporting a leak to your insurance provider may seem daunting but the more evidence you have collected to show you are not at fault for the leak the easier the claim will be.

Providing estimates for the work that needs to be carried out to repair the leaking roof will further assist your claim.

Find The Source Of The Roof Leak At Your Home

Finding the source of the leak is important to be able to repair the leak. If you suddenly find water damage on your upstairs walls or discoloration and staining on your ceiling you may ask, is my roof leaking?

To find the leak it is advisable to contact a reputable leak detection company. Longstanding professionals such as ADI Leak Detection offer free quotes and will be quick to find the cause of your leak at your home.

Homeowners Roof Leak Insurance FAQ’s – Is Your Roof Covered?

Got questions? We've got answers! If you don't find what you're looking for, feel free to reach out to us.

How To Find A Roof Leak?

There are a few things to look out for when you are wondering how to find a roof leak, firstly, if it is safe to do so head up to your loft or attic to see if you can see any visible damage. Remember to take a torch so you can look in all the dark corners of the attic to find a potential problem. Things to look out for are:

Dripping water
Moisture stains
Damp wood
Mould

If you can’t detect any of the above it is advisable to get assistance from a Leak Detection company such as ADI Leak Detection.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Mould From Leaks?

Can a roof leak cause mould? Yes it can, and does homeowners insurance cover mould from roof leaks? That depends on the cause of the mould, if it has developed as a result of lack of property maintenance the mould damage will not be covered. If it is a result of storm damage your insurance will cover it.

Does Home Insurance Cover Water Damage To Contents Or Repairs?

Insurance policies will only cover the cost of water damaged contents if you have the correct type of coverage. Buildings insurance covers the cost of repairing damage to the structure of the property.

Contents insurance covers your personal belongings inside your property. Most insurers will sell both buildings and contents insurance together but it’s important to check which cover you have on your own policy.

If you only have building insurance, unfortunately, your personal belongings inside your house will not be covered. Please ensure you check the policy you have and the details before making a claim.

How Can Roof Leaks Be Prevented?

It’s important to keep your roof in good condition at all times to prevent leaks from happening. You may ask the question: why is my roof leaking? Well there are a number of reasons why your roof could leak. Here’s some top tips on how to prevent your roof from springing a leak in the first place:

Keep your gutters clear, a build up of leaves and moss can block your gutters preventing water from being able to drain.
Check the seals around skylights regularly as worn out or damaged seals can allow water into your property.
Inspect your roof tiles, missing or damaged tiles will let water in when it rains so it’s important to check and replace defective tiles regularly.
Trim nearby trees so that overhanging branches can’t damage the roof if they break.

Remember to keep a record and receipts of any maintenance work you have done on your roof so that in the event of a leak you can prove you have been keeping the roof in a good condition.

Discover If Your Insurance Does Cover Roof Leaks