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Category:
Insurance News
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Homeowners Insurance
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October 2009
Good Rains Can Be Bad For Your Insurance
Everything in your garden may be rosy after the first downpours of
the rainy season, but sometimes the consequences of good rains can
be bad for unwary homeowners.
The seasonal tip comes from FNB Insurance Brokers (FNBIB), the
short-term insurance arm of the FNB financial services group and a
company known for proactive advice to the consumer.
FNBIB General Manager, Marketing Debbie Barret says the pitfall to
watch involves gutters, down-pipes and drains and a provision in
many household insurance policies that obliges the consumer to keep
property well maintained and in a good state of repair.
"An
insurer may repudiate a claim if you neglect your duty of proper
maintenance and as a result suffer damage to the property and
contents,"
she explains.
"This
means that you, the householder, have to meet the repair bill –
perhaps because water seeped into your ceiling, down your walls and
into your home after gutters became blocked and rainwater was unable
to flow away."
One potential problem at this time of year is abundant leaf growth
as leaves are a frequent cause of blockages in gutters and
down-pipes.
Debbie Barret adds:
"Home-owners
are well advised to carry out a periodic inspection of gutters and
clear away any vegetation and material that might cause a blockage.
"Sometimes
it may be necessary to cut away the branches of overhanging trees if
this appears to be the underlying cause of the problem."
Low-hanging branches that rest on or are near the roof should also
be cut away.
Branches
like this often sway in a heavy wind, dislodging roof tiles or
damaging the gutters.
Other possible
'trouble
spots'
are drainage channels or areas near the home where water could build
up.
Thick vegetation and silt can block the channel or prevent the
speedy run-off of storm-water.
Problems might then occur with foundations or with damp.
"The
basic point to remember is that damage directly attributable to poor
maintenance by the home-owner can create a dispute with the
insurer,” says Barret.
"In
cases where the cost of repair runs into thousands of rands, this
can be extremely stressful for the consumer.
"The
best way to avoid a contested claim and facilitate speedy claim
settlement is to inspect the property regularly and carry out
commonsense maintenance and repair. This time of year is a good time
to start."
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