Water is an indispensable part of our lives. In fact, it is one of the elements that gives us life. For Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus, it was the originating principle of all things. Yet however essential water is, it can very quickly become a problem, too. We explain what constitutes water damage and what you have to do if it occurs.
Guide
Water damage. Three questions and answers.
What is water damage?
Water damage occurs when water gets into a building or leaks from a pipe. There can be many different causes, ranging from a leaky roof to blocked drains, improperly sealed pipes and broken washing machines.
One important thing to note is that many people think of flooding or storms when they hear the term "water damage". In the insurance world, however, damage caused by natural events is not referred to as water damage but as "natural hazard damage". While this may sound like splitting hairs, it is relevant for the terms and conditions and deductibles that apply.
Which insurance pays out in the event of water damage?
The answer to this question depends on what was damaged:
- Damage to your possessions is covered by your household contents insurance.
- Water damage to the building is insured by your buildings insurance.
- If you damage someone else's property in a moment of carelessness, this is a case for your personal liability insurance.
Water damage to personal items like clothes, furniture or electrical appliances
If your personal items or furniture are damaged by water, this is a case for your household contents insurance. This will generally compensate the replacement value of the damaged objects – in other words the price that you would have to pay to buy new versions of them.
Need some specific examples?
- A broken pipe floods your cellar, ruining several boxes of clothing.
- Your dishwasher leaks, damaging your robotic vacuum cleaner.
- Backing up water caused by a leaky pipe floods your attic – along with a number of antique chairs.
Water damage to buildings, floors or walls
Be it a damaged floor, mould on the wall or damage to the kitchen worktop: if you are the owner, your buildings insurance is liable for water damage to your property.
By contrast, water damage that you cause to a rental apartment through carelessness is covered by your personal liability insurance.
Need some specific examples?
- Your dishwasher leaks and the water damages the parquet flooring.
- You accidentally knock over your cleaning bucket while sprucing up your hallway, ruining the fitted carpet.
- While running a bath, you decide to use the time to cook something quickly. You forget to switch the water off, flooding not only the bathroom but also your neighbour's apartment on the floor below.
Good to know
If you cause damage through gross negligence, the law states that you must pay part of the loss yourself. Losses are generally deemed to have been caused by gross negligence if they could easily have been avoided by applying common sense. The best thing to do, therefore, is to include a gross negligence waiver, which you can take out as an additional component of our liability and household contents insurance. Your personal liability insurance will then cover these losses, too.
Everything to do with your rights: our personal legal protection for tenants
When you move out of your apartment, the landlady accuses you of being responsible for some damage that actually has nothing to do with you. In this situation, our personal legal protection insurance will help out.
What to do in the event of water damage?
In deep water? Hopefully only in the figurative sense. In the event of water damage, you have to act quickly to stop the problem from getting worse. We have put together a check list to help you in this situation:
- Immediate action: Bring people and animals to safety. Turn off the main water supply to stop the flow of water, and switch off the electricity in the affected room to avoid electrical hazards.
- Report the damage: Inform your insurer or landlord about the incident immediately. The insurance company will assess the damage and discuss with you what to do next. Wait to carry out repairs until you have been given the green light by your insurer. Some insurance companies also stipulate that you must consult them first before bringing in plumbers or other tradespeople.
- Documentation: Take photos of the damage and list all the damaged items. Keep all receipts for costs you have incurred so that you can submit them to the insurance company.
Conclusion
- Water damage can have various causes such as leaky pipes or defective appliances. Distinguishing between water damage and natural hazard damage is important for your insurance cover.
- Household contents, buildings and personal liability insurance policies offer protection, depending on the type of damage and the affected items.
- Immediate measures like turning off the water supply are crucial in order to limit the damage.
- Inform your insurance company quickly to ensure that the claim is dealt with smoothly.
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Household contents insurance
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Online buildings insurance
Although our online buildings insurance cannot replace your destroyed belongings, it does cover the financial consequences.
Liability insurance
Get started – and stay completely relaxed. If you accidentally do harm or damage to others, our personal liability cover will help.