Escape of water means water leaking or overflowing inside a property from pipes, tanks, heating systems, toilets, showers or plumbed appliances.
Escape of water is an insurance term for water that leaks or overflows inside a property. It can come from a burst pipe, heating system, tank, toilet, bath, shower, dishwasher, washing machine or other plumbed appliance.
The Association of British Insurers describes escape of water as damage caused by problems such as burst pipes, leaking appliances and overflowing toilets.
Escape of water is not the same as flood damage. Flood water usually comes from outside the home, such as from a river, sea, surface water or groundwater. Escape of water usually starts inside the property.
Water can cause a lot of damage in a short time. It can affect ceilings, floors, walls, carpets, kitchens, furniture and electrics. A hidden leak can also lead to damp, mould or rot if it is not found quickly.
Escape of water is also a common home insurance claim. The ABI says insurers pay out large sums each day for escape of water damage.
Many home insurance policies include escape of water cover, but the details vary. Buildings insurance may cover damage to the structure of the home, such as walls, ceilings, floors and fixed fittings. Contents insurance may cover damaged belongings, depending on the policy.
Some policies have a higher insurance excess for escape of water claims. This means you may need to pay more towards this type of claim. MoneyHelper also says some policies may not cover damage from overflowing baths or water damage linked to poor seals around baths or showers.
Your policy will set out the cover, limits and exclusions. Some insurers may not cover damage caused by wear and tear, poor maintenance or a leak that has built up over time.
The Financial Ombudsman Service explains that home policies often cover set “insured events”, but may exclude gradual damage. This can matter if a slow leak has been hidden behind a wall, under a bath or below a floor.
If an insurer thinks the damage happened over time, it may look at when you could reasonably have known about the problem and what you did once you found it. Claims decisions depend on the facts and the policy wording.
A leak is not always easy to find. Trace and access cover may help with the cost of finding the source of a hidden leak. This could include removing tiles, lifting flooring or opening a wall.
Trace and access does not always come as standard. It may also have a limit and may not cover the cost of fixing the pipe or fitting that caused the leak. Check your policy schedule and wording before you need to claim.
Act quickly. Turn off the water if it is safe to do so, move items away from the water, take photos, and contact your insurer as soon as you can.
The ABI recommends knowing where your stopcock is and checking that it works, as this can help you limit water damage.
Do not assume all emergency repairs will be covered in full. Your insurer may want to inspect the damage or agree the next steps first. If urgent work is needed to stop further damage, keep photos, invoices and reports.
Escape of water can be worse in an empty home because a leak may not be found quickly. MoneyHelper says you should tell your insurer if your home will be unoccupied for a long period, often 30 days or more.
Your insurer may ask you to take steps such as turning off the water, draining the heating system or arranging checks. Rules can vary, so check your policy before leaving a property empty.
This can also matter for landlords between tenants or during repairs. If you own a let property, landlord insurance may be more suitable than standard home insurance.
At Got You Covered, we arrange home and landlord insurance through insurers we work with. We may be able to help with properties that need a more specialist approach, such as homes with previous claims, unoccupied periods, flood risk, renovation work or landlord use.
If you have had an escape of water claim before, tell us when getting a quote. Insurers may ask about what happened, when it happened, the cost of the claim and what repairs were made. Cover, price, excesses and acceptance will depend on the insurer, the property and the policy terms.
Escape of water means water leaking or overflowing from inside the property. Many policies include cover for this, but limits, excesses and exclusions can apply. Check your policy, act quickly if a leak happens, and be clear about previous claims or long unoccupied periods.
