UK water damage & escape of water claims
Water damage claim? Get the payout you're actually owed.
Most UK home insurance covers escape of water — burst pipes, leaks, appliance failures. But these claims are routinely underpaid or wrongly rejected. We help homeowners document, challenge and win a fair settlement.
paid out, every day
UK insurers pay out around £1.8 million every single day for escape of water — one of the most common home insurance claims there is. Yours is valid, common, and worth getting right. (Association of British Insurers)
The basics
What counts as a water damage claim?
Insurers call it "escape of water": damage from water leaking or bursting from something inside your home — pipes, heating, a tank, or an appliance. That is different from flooding, which is water coming in from outside.
The distinction matters: escape of water is covered by most standard home policies, and it is where payouts are most often too low.
Escape of water — usually covered
Burst or leaking pipes, a failed washing machine or dishwasher, an overflowing tank, a central-heating leak.
Watch the exclusions
Slow, gradual "wear and tear" leaks and poor maintenance are often not covered. Proving a sudden cause is the key.
Is it covered?
What you can usually claim for
A full water damage settlement is more than a new carpet. Make sure your claim includes all of it.
Buildings
Structural repairs — walls, ceilings, floors, plaster and fixed fittings damaged by the water.
Contents
Ruined carpets, furniture and belongings — repaired or replaced at their proper value.
Trace & access
The cost of finding a hidden leak — lifting floors, opening walls — and reinstating afterwards.
Also often payable: alternative accommodation if your home is uninhabitable, and emergency drying and repairs.
The process
How to make a water damage claim
Five steps. The evidence you gather in the first day is what secures a full payout.
- 1
Stop & make safe
Turn off the stopcock and the electrics near the water.
- 2
Photograph everything
Before you clean up — every room, the source, each ruined item.
- 3
List the damage
An inventory of losses with rough values. Keep all receipts.
- 4
Notify your insurer
Promptly. Remember the loss adjuster they send works for them.
- 5
Check before you accept
Get independent quotes. Do not accept the first offer blind.
Why we exist
Underpaid or refused? It's not the end of the road.
Insurers reject and lowball valid escape-of-water claims every day — usually on "wear and tear", maintenance, or a settlement that quietly leaves out trace and access, contents or alternative accommodation.
A refusal or a low offer can be challenged with the right evidence — and on larger claims, a loss assessor working for you can renegotiate it.
Get a free claim reviewA denial isn't final
Request the reasons in writing, challenge with evidence, and escalate to the Financial Ombudsman if needed.
You may be owed more
If the offer looks low, it often is. Check it against the true cost of putting your home back.
For claims over £10,000
When a loss assessor pays for itself
The insurer sends a loss adjuster— they protect the insurer's money. A loss assessor works for you: valuing the full loss, managing the claim, and negotiating a fair settlement.
- Significant damage — roughly £10,000 or more
- Your claim has been denied, delayed or lowballed
- You don't have the time or stomach to fight it
Common questions
Water damage claims, answered
Is it worth claiming on home insurance for water damage?
What does home insurance cover for water damage?
How long does a water damage claim take?
What is the average insurance payout for water damage in the UK?
No obligation
Get a free review of your water damage claim
Tell us what happened. We'll tell you honestly whether your claim looks fairly handled — and, for larger or disputed claims, connect you with a vetted loss assessor who works for you, not your insurer.