Drum – 01 August 2019

W

INTER brings its own set of problems

for homeowners.

If you live in the Western Cape

there’s the risk of leaks and floods.

The colder temperatures countrywide

can lead to fire damage from gas heaters or wood-

burning fireplaces. And, of course, there’s the year-

long risk of geysers that can burst and ruin ceilings

and floors.

Let’s see what damage you can claim for.

WHENCLAIMING

Make a detailed list of

thedamageditems.

Take pictures of the

damages – it will help

theassessor.

Notify your broker or

insurer within the dead-

line for claims as stipu-

lated in your policy – it’s

usually within 30 days

after the incident.

Coverforyourhouseand

household contents against

water damage due to flooding

is usually standard on policies.

The roof is covered under

the homeowner’s insurance,

and furniture is covered by

household contents insurance.

So if your homeowners’

insurance is at a different

insurer than your household

contents policy, you’ll have to

submit a claim to each

accordingly.

Unfortunately, these claims

are sometimes denied. The

main reason is poor mainte-

nance by you, the homeowner.

A general requirement is

that policy holders must take

reasonable steps to prevent

or mitigate loss or damage.

Loose roof tiles and any

leaks must be repaired. Gut-

ters must be kept clean and

broken gutters must be fixed

or replaced.

If you maintain your home in

a condition to withstand

normal weather conditions

but you suffer flood damage,

your claim should be

successful.

WATER DAMAGE

GET HELP

HERE

Lossordamagebecauseoffire

is usually standard cover on the

homeowner’s and household

contents policies but there

could be terms and exclusions.

LIGHTNING Thatched roofs

and wooden structures pose

FIRE DAMAGE

Borderwallsonyourproperty

are usually covered under

your homeowner’s insurance.

They should be covered

against wind and water dam-

age – provided you complied

with building regulations.

If you have a brick wall built

by someone who didn’t com-

ply with the National Home

Builders Registration Council

standards, or if you tried to

save costs by not building a

proper foundation, that’s neg-

ligence and your claim will

probably be denied.

WIND DAMAGE

SMost insurers have calculators on their websites to help you establish the replacement value of

your home contents.

SThe Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety Association of Southern Africa: lpgas.co.za.

SThe Ombudsman for Short-term Insurance: osti.co.za or 0860-726-890

SWinterweathercommonly

causes pipes to burst, and

geysers can also suffer

damage. Damage to your

geyser, pipes and possibly

resultant damage to your

ceilings should be covered

under your building insur-

ance. Water damage to your

furniture and appliances as

a result of a burst geyser or

water pipe is covered under

household contents.

SWhen temperatures drop,

floor and wall tiles might lift

or crack. But if this happens

due to shoddy workman-

ship – if the tiles weren’t

properly laid, for example

• the claim might be denied.

WEATHER DAMAGE

a higher risk for fire damage,

so if you have either of these

your policy will probably re-

quire you to install a lightning

rod and some form of fire ex-

tinguisher. If you don’t, your

claim might be refused.

In high-risk scenarios such

as thatched roof houses in an

area where lightning is com-

mon, your policy might ex-

clude fire damage due to light-

ning. If you have a thatched

roof and your house suffers

damage due to the roof catch-

ing fire but haven’t specified it

in your policy, your insurer can

deny your claim because it

wasn’t aware of the risk.

FIRE Gas stoves, heaters and

fireplaces all pose a fire risk.

If fire damage was caused by

negligence or because you

didn’t comply with the insur-

er’s requirements, your claim

will probably be refused.

For example, if you have gas

appliances in your home, you

need a certificate of confor-

mity for gas appliances. This

proves they were installed by

someone registered with the

Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Safety Association of South-

ern Africa, were installed leak-

free and are safe. If the instal-

lation is noncompliant and

your home suffers fire dam-

age, the claim will be denied.

An example of negligence

is if you haven’t cleaned your

chimney and the air flow is

hampered because of twigs,

dry leaves or birds’ nests that

can catch alight. When you

submit a claim, insurers will

inspect your property to de-

termine if you’ve complied

with the policy requirements.

44 | 1 AUGUST 2019 http://www.drum.co.za

KNOCK-ON DAMAGE

Leaks, floods, burst pipes – what can you claim from your

insurance policy?

YOUR

MONEY

SORTED

ADVICE BY LETITIA WATSON