Question: I had to replace my hot water system as it caused a leak in the unit below. Now the strata manager wants a copy of my invoice so she can put it through insurance. It’s my business how much we have paid for a new system. Why do they need the invoice?
Answer: It’s not really about the price of the new system, but more about the insurance process.
This is not really a question about the price of the new system, we suggest that it is more about the insurance process, to be more precise I would need to know who the insurer was and the policy issued.
In general terms, most strata insurers will cover the resultant damage from a leaking apparatus (“the leaking in unit below”), however before any of the repairs are completed the insurer will want to know that the cause of the leak has been rectified. This may be the impetus for the requested invoice.
Some insurers also cover the cost of the location of the leak and some even contribute to the repair of the apparatus leaking.
Therefore, it is unclear as to whether the Strata Manager is simply attempting to cover off the requirement to validate the leak has been stopped (and how) or if they are attempting to recover some of your expenses in relation to the Hot Water System.
If you have no desire to claim for part or all of the replacement Hot Water System, or the policy offers no cover for the system. Then we suggest that you:
- Supply the receipt for the new Hot Water System with all prices blacked out, or
- You may want to have the plumber who attended simply supply a statement that they attended on ‘day xx’ and replaced the leaking Hot Water System
This will enable the Strata Manager to fulfil the policy requirement of proving the leak has been rectified while maintaining your privacy in relation to the cost.
If, however you wish the insurer to consider a claim of all or part of the costs in relation to the replacement system then a copy of the invoice (with all details) will be required.
This post appears in Strata News #602.
Scott Driscoll Driscoll Strata Consulting E: scott@driscollstrataconsulting.com.au P: 0409 632 003