Is this an insurance claimable event

Discussion in 'Repairs & Maintenance' started by Mumbai, 8th Jun, 2016.

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  1. Mumbai

    Mumbai Well-Known Member

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    I have been having issues with roots from neighboring property clogging my IPs pipes. After paying for jet blasting a few times, the plumber has asked to get the pipes replaced/fixed. This will cost around 3.5k.
    Will this be covered by insurance?
    I called EBM, but they are 'not sure' and asked me to get it fixed, lodge a claim and see if it is reimbursed :(
     
  2. Joynz

    Joynz Well-Known Member

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    Doubt it.
     
  3. SeafordSunshine

    SeafordSunshine Well-Known Member

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    I had a similar problem, and foolishly I managed and paid for the problem myself.
    I imagine that for you , you will need to provide evidence of the tree roots being in your pipes. There are plumbers who film the inside of pipes and give you the footage. Perhaps you could consider doing this and forwarding it to your insurer, instead of taking the replacement route?
    Also let your neighbour know that you will be taking insurance action against them.. Perhaps they will remove the source of the problem?
     
  4. mini2

    mini2 Well-Known Member

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    Is this within or outside the boundary? Could be Sydney Water's problem if it's outside the boundary.
     
  5. D.T.

    D.T. Specialist Property Manager Business Member

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    The plumber I use sends cctv up pipes / drains so could potentially be used as evidence. Maybe there's one in your area who does the same?
     
  6. Mumbai

    Mumbai Well-Known Member

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    It's in the boundary of the house. I have cctv images. Not sure if it still counts as an insurable event. I don't understand why not though. It makes me think why take insurance when expensive repairs Like this are not covered:(
     
  7. Marg4000

    Marg4000 Well-Known Member

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    Insurance is designed to cover defined, unexpected events, specified in the policy.

    It is not a catch-all to cover the costs of any and all repairs. If it were, no-one would be able to afford it.

    Tree roots in drains are usually the result of ageing or damaged piping developing cracks, and therefore a maintenance issue not normally covered by insurance.
    Marg
     
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  8. Xenia

    Xenia Well-Known Member

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    Taking film footage of what is inside the pipes DOES NOT prove that they are those tree roots. It just shows that roots caused the problem.

    Whether it's claimable or not you CAN take action against the neighbour but CCTV footage is not enough, you need a sample of the roots and a biologist report that they are coming from that particular specific tree and the tree needs to be on the neighbours land.
    Some written evidence that you have told the neigbour about this before and they refused to take action would also be required.

    If they neighbour did not know about it and you just tried to give them the invoice the courts are not likely to rule in it's favour.
    You need to specifically tell your neighbour to remove the tree and tell them that it's causing problems to the plumbing.

    Whether the claim against the neigbour will go through does not depend on whether you can or cannot claim it on insurance. Your insurance will go through the same steps in a court to sue the neighbour, that is proof of tree and proof of failure of past action.

    In order to try and get it through insurance, they are more likely to take action on real invoices rather than just a claim based on theory so ebm was right, fix it and lodge it, it could go either way but if it needs to get done anyway then that's your priority.

    Hope that helps.
    X
     
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  9. Xenia

    Xenia Well-Known Member

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    Burst pipes inside walls are usually claimable on building insurance so it could be claimable.
     
  10. DaveM

    DaveM Well-Known Member

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    Insurance policies generally cover the location and repair of pressurised pipes, not drainage. Tree roots would be a maintenance item and generally not an insurable event.
     
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