Damp proofing is an important factor in any home, and discovering that your property might need to have its damp proofing measures either updated, or even installed, is going to be a difficult time.
So, if you discover that your property has a problem with damp, can you contact and use your home insurance policy to have damp proofing carried out on your home?
Can You Claim Damp Proofing on Home Insurance?
The short and unfortunate answer here is most likely no, you cannot claim for damp proofing on your home insurance.
Of course, every home insurance policy is different, and it will be worth you taking the time to read your policy documents properly to make sure of what your property has been covered for.
We will say though that most home insurance policies in the UK do not cover for damage as a result of damp, nor do they cover for the installation, reinstallation, or fix of existing damp proofing works in the property itself.
Can Damp Affect My Home Insurance?
The simple answer here is yes, damp can definitely have an effect on the amount that you will have to pay for your home insurance.
If, for example, you go looking for home insurance quotes and you disclose that your property does suffer from damp, or routinely develops damp related problems, then you are going to see higher premiums and monthly payments being offered to you.
That’s because damp is the product of a defect in the property, a condition that could (and should) be remedied, and as long as it is allowed to persist your property will be at risk of developing further and more serious property care related, or potentially even structural issues.
You will also find that your home insurance cost will be effected by damp should it not be disclosed when you are in the quotation stage of home insurance shopping, and it later leads to a problem which might require a claim. As we mentioned, damp is a condition that can lead to all kinds of problems, and trying to claim for a problem related to damp on your home insurance is likely to see the claim rejected, and the premium rise if that same damp isn’t properly taken care of.
Conversely, making sure that your property is protected properly from damp is only going to give insurance companies confidence that your property is being cared for properly, and not being allowed to slip into disrepair.
Doing your due diligence and ensuring that the damp proofing company you choose is properly backed, insured, and qualified to complete the work is only going to improve the long term capabilities of the damp proofing itself, the damp proofing viability in your insurance providers eyes, and the chances of the work being backed by a proper guarantee are much higher.
How Can I Avoid Damp Affecting My Home Insurance?
The best way to stop damp from having any effect on either your home insurance premiums, or on the property itself, will be to have the property properly inspected by experts.
It’s advised that you engage with a damp proofing surveyor either before you purchase a property, during the conveyancing process, or as soon as possible once you take ownership. This will help you be certain of the level of risk your property is at when it comes to damp, and let you take action on having those damp proofing problems properly remedied.
Making sure that you act quickly and properly will reduce or eliminate the issue being presented by the damp and minimalise the impact it might have on your properties’ home insurance premiums.
What Should I Do If I Discover Damp?
If you notice that your property has developed a problem with damp, you may well be required to report it to you home insurance provider upon its discovery – you will have to check your policy documents to be sure.
You will then want to make sure the damp problem is rectified quickly. This means organising a damp proofing survey with a reputable company, and then acting on the recommendations given in the following report.
In Timberwise’s case, the recommended works can be carried out by our technicians, and will all be backed up with one of our long term guarantees, ensuring the quality whilst giving you, and your insurance provider, peace of mind.
You will then want to report on the damp proofing amendments to your insurance provider, and let them know you have taken steps to minimise or eliminate the possibility of damp leading to a problem that could potentially lead to a claim in the future.
What If My Damp Proofing has Failed?
If you have already had damp proofing installed within your property and it isn’t working as it should be, then your next action should be to contact the company that originally installed the damp proofing measures.
This is because you will often find that the original installer offer a guarantee on their work, and instead of having to pay out for additional works, your original installer will have to honour their guarantee and bring their damp proofing work into working order.
Here at Timberwise we offer long term guarantees on the work we carry out, and each of our guarantees come complete with the PCA Promise. The PCA Promise means that should Timberwise cease trading for any reason during the length of your guarantee period, another PCA accredited contractor will be able to undertake the work at no extra expense.
To talk to our team about arranging a damp survey, or about a guarantee on work we have done in your property, just fill in the form below and a member of our team will be in touch.
