House insurance - Page 2

Was a lot of continual rain early this year in Camposol Easter time.  I had flooding in my underbuild apartment, but had taken measures to minimize actual damage long ago - . Previous experience taught me most insurance companies here don't want to pay anything out , just take in premiums all the time. There is a time limit on claims for water/rain damage. I have only ever been paid once in 10 years. When Camposol was inundated and made headlines and claims could not be refuted.  The payment came from central government funds, not from the pocket of the actual insurance company. I have recently suffered the ultimate insurance insult when my husband died. After paying expensive funeral insurance for 11 years was refused the claim and had to pay out of my own pocket. 6 months later I have had my claim paid, but not for the full amount it cost me. I'm hundreds of Euros short and no one taking any blame for the "error".

So sad and shameful to take advantage of people at times of vulnerability! 

I'm not sure how it works with Spanish Insurance Companies but in a past life I was a Loss Adjuster here in the UK. If it's a holiday home and has been insured as the same, then need to check the policy wording regarding unoccupancy. Then it needs to be established as to how exactly the water came into the property. If it's caused by a faulty or "old" pipe, then the pipe itself would not be covered (general wear and tear) but the resultant "escape of water" damage should be covered. Again the policy wording would cover this. 

If the water has come in due to storm force conditions there should be evidence of building damage caused by this insured peril. That would need to be supported by the approx date it happened and the weather at that time (difficult on holiday homes I know!) If it's just general rain then the purpose of a roof/guttering is to stop water from coming in! If it has not done it's job then that's a maintenance issue. The grey area is excessive rainfall whereby the guttering has not been able to cope with the sheer amount of rainfall and has overflowed into the house/down the walls and caused internal damage. Again this would need to have weather supporting it. The guttering "upgrade" would not be covered. If cannot prove the weather, there's always Accidental Damage cover that would normally cover internal repairs (again I don't know about Spanish policy wording so you would need to check that.

If you are sure there is definitely cover in place and have a valid claim, there was always the Insurance Ombudsman (in the UK anyway) so check in the back of your policy booklet for their details.....

Hope that helps a little.....

Pete

Hi, if you contact Steve Henderson on Camposol. He may be able to offer some advice. He is an agent for a broker for insurance. He's a good guy and I'm sure he would help.