Home Insurance and Damp: Critical Information for Homeowners

We all have home insurance, or at least we should in order to have peace of mind, yet many UK homeowners have not read the small print and therefore, they are not quite sure what their home insurance actually covers.

In this short article, we offer important information regarding home insurance and whether it covers damage caused by damp.

Damage caused by damp

Most home insurance policies actually cover damage that is caused by damp and moisture; if, for example, damp causes wallpaper or paint to peel off the wall, the insurance should cover replacing the wallpaper or paint, yet the policy would not cover damp repairs, which must be carried out before you can repaper the walls. In the event the DPC membrane is compromised, this will allow rising damp to climb the walls, and the cost of repairing the damp proof course would probably not be covered.

Different types of damp

There are numerous forms of damp, which are as follows:

• Rising damp – This is caused by a damaged damp proof course at ground level and damp can then rise up the external walls.
• Penetrating damp – Penetrating damp can affect any part of a building, from the roof to the foundations. Crumbling masonry and inferior mortar are common causes of penetrating damp, while blocked guttering and a leaking roof can also lead to penetrating damp.
• Condensation – Condensation forms when moisture forms on surfaces that have different temperatures. If the temperature outside is much colder than inside, condensation typically forms on the inside of the window panes, which runs down onto the window mantle and the timber frames, which can be the onset of mould, mildew and wet rot.
• Mould & mildew – Mould and mildew are caused by the presence of damp; if you should notice a musky smell in the house, this is a sure sign that you have mould somewhere. Regular inspections are the best solution for monitoring damp, mould and mildew; you can contact us at London Damp Specialists and arrange for one of our qualified damp surveyors to inspect the property.

Woodworm, wet and dry rot

Most home insurance policies do not cover woodworm, dry and wet rot; you should always read the small print on any insurance policies, which will give you a clearer understanding of what is covered and what is not.

Damp surveys

If you are about to make an offer on a London property, you should commission our homebuyer damp survey that will give you a detailed report on the status of your property regarding damp issues. We also present a written quote for any remedial work that we recommend; all our work is guaranteed for 30 years, which is a reflection of our high standard of workmanship.

To summarise, most home insurance policies will not cover damp proofing of any kind, they do, however, cover damage that is caused by damp.

Call London Damp Specialists on 020 8528 3864 during office hours or fill in the form on our website for a comprehensive damp survey.