No, it’s not covered
Content: Advice
All too often consumers assume their insurance policy is a maintenance contract, but this is one of the biggest reasons for claims being rejected by insurers
WORDS: SUPPLIED – PHOTOS: SOURCED & SHUTTERSTOCK
omeowners who neglect to maintain their homes are often in for nasty surprises at claims stage, says Old Mutual Insure spokesperson, Lizo Mnguni. “If you have not maintained your home properly and this leads to more serious damage, then it’s very likely that your insurer won’t pay out,” says Mnguni. “This often happens when people don’t understand what they are buying, and mistakenly expect their insurance policy to cover everything.”
The purpose of your insurance policy is to ensure that you are covered against unforeseen events, which excludes normal wear and tear. “An example of someone treating their policy like a maintenance contract is if they have not cleaned out their gutters ahead of the rainy season and it causes a pool of water to start seeping into the ceiling, which in turn causes it to rot and mould to develop. This would not be an insured event.”
Understand your policy
Old Mutual Insure rejects many claims that are maintenance related, which highlights the extent of the problem.
“To avoid the likelihood of this happening, you must make sure you understand your insurance contract as well as its exclusions and speak to your broker to get clarity. Your broker can also guide you on what is a legitimate claim, and what would likely be rejected.”
If you notice deterioration in and around your home (e.g. a damp patch, a pipe dripping) and you are worried you’ll need to make an insurance claim, tell your broker as soon as possible, who can advise further.
Keep it up
Mnguni says homeowners are required to perform proactive risk management by maintaining their homes, which if done diligently, can lead to a reduced premium in the future. “Part of this includes making sure you have adequate cover in place should something unforeseen happen. But also remember you have a duty of care to ensure even though you are insured, you are not taking huge risks with your property.”
He reminds policyholders that when buying a new home, they must, in the excitement of the purchase, not forget to account for the financial costs of its upkeep.
“The financial implications of discovering you are not covered for an event due to not taking proper care of your home, can be far more costly than committing to a diligent maintenance programme of your home,” says Mnguni.
Another tip he gives policyholders is to always keep proof of all of maintenance work – e.g. alarm repairs and servicing, “which can really help you out at claim stage.”
He explains in the case of a legitimate claim, where a historic home has experienced a burst water pipe or cracked roof tiles due to storm damage (for example), it can sometimes get more complicated, given that it is difficult to replace items like tiles or carpets if they have been discontinued, and some insurers may pay you either for its replacement value, or as new (but with depreciation accounted for).
“The point of insurance is to put you back in the same position before the loss occurred, so in these cases your insurer will pay you the replacement value in cash if they cannot replace an item due to it no longer being available.”
He adds that if you specify a very special ‘irreplaceable’ item, your home contents policy should cover it on a global basis. Meaning that if you experience a loss, and the value of the item is below the total of your home contents policy, it is covered; but if it is above the sum total, then your insurer will most likely only pay a portion of your claim.
