The water supply pipe in my townhouse that feeds the bathroom is in the wall. It recently failed and caused flooding but insurance denied the claim as the pipe had not been maintained. How do I maintain a pipe within a wall?
I own a townhouse. The water supply pipe that feeds my bathroom is in the wall. The pipe recently failed and caused flooding in the adjacent room and bathroom.
My insurance says the plumber said that the failure of the pipe was caused by corrosion which happened over time and was not a sudden failure. As such it is my maintenance issue and so I am not covered by the strata building insurance.
How can you maintain a pipe in a wall and is my insurance correct in that it is my responsibility to resolve the issue?
In most instances, lot owners at their own cost will need to maintain pipes as issues arise.
Water damage claims are our most contested claims with insurers because there is often a component of maintenance and also repair of water damage. Insurers cover the cost to repair water damage to insured property but generally exclude repairs costs related to finding and fixing the leak, as it generally considered the lot owners/owners corporation's responsibility to maintain their property and such repairs relate to general maintenance or wear and tear.
Insurers have exclusions such as lack of maintenance, rust, oxidation, wear and tear, corrosion, gradual deterioration, developing flaws, building defects etc. Generally, leaks are only covered if the leak is caused from “sudden and accidental damage” such as impact damage, sudden blockage and storm damage.
For a pipe concealed behind a wall, is difficult to maintain other than as issues arise. Therefore in most instances, lot owners at their own cost will need to maintain pipes as issues arise.
Lot owners carry the cost of most maintenance issues inside their lot and generally insurance does not cover the costs associated with maintenance. This is one of the risks/costs associated with property ownership.
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Tyrone Shandiman is a seasoned professional in the insurance industry having embarked on his journey in 2004 within the financial services sector. In 2011, he established Strata Insurance Solutions, transforming a garage startup into a reputable firm servicing over 900 clients with a dedicated focus on strata insurance. Tyrone's role extends beyond managing operations and tackling complex insurance matters; he also founded the Australian Consumers Insurance Lobby, championing consumer rights within the insurance industry. Notably, his efforts and expertise have been acknowledged with numerous industry awards. Adding to these accolades, Strata Insurance Solutions was recently named an Australian Top Brokerage by Insurance Business Australia Magazine, a testament to the firm's excellence and leadership in the field. Tyrone is a regular contributor to LookUpStrata.
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