Does Home Insurance Cover Drain Damage?

Often, yes. According to the Financial Ombudsman Service, "most buildings insurance policies cover damage to underground pipes, drains, cables and tanks". But cover usually applies only to pipes you are responsible for, and policies commonly exclude gradual damage, wear and tear and poor workmanship, so the cause of the damage decides most claims.

This guide explains what is usually covered, which drains are actually yours, the exclusions that trip people up, and how to give your claim the best chance.

What does buildings insurance usually cover for drains?

Drains normally fall under the buildings part of a home insurance policy, not contents. The Ombudsman says most buildings policies cover damage to underground services, including drains.

Two points are worth knowing:

• Damage can be physical or functional. A cracked or collapsed pipe is physical damage. A pipe that no longer does its job, for example because it is blocked, can count as functional damage.
• The insurer must prove an exclusion applies. If an insurer wants to rely on an exclusion to turn down a claim, the Ombudsman expects it to show that the exclusion fits the facts.

Policies vary widely. Some include accidental damage to underground pipes as standard, some offer it as an optional extra, and some cover only specific events. Always read the policy wording rather than relying on the summary.

Which drains are you responsible for?

Insurance usually only covers pipes you are responsible for, so it helps to know where your responsibility ends. In England, private sewers and lateral drains connected to the public sewer before 1 July 2011 transferred to the water companies on 1 October 2011 (SI 2011/1566).

Across Nottinghamshire and most of Derbyshire and Leicestershire, the sewerage company is Severn Trent (0800 783 4444, 24 hours). Most of Lincolnshire is served by Anglian Water, which lists its contact numbers online.

If a shared pipe is involved, the Ombudsman notes that some insurers may pay only a share of the cost, such as 50%. Our guide to who is responsible for a blocked drain explains the rules in more detail.

What do insurers commonly exclude?

The Ombudsman lists several common exclusions for drain damage:

• gradual damage, which builds up over a long period;
• wear and tear, such as old joints that have slowly failed;
• poor design or workmanship, including badly laid pipes or bad connections;
• pitch fibre pipes, which many policies do not cover at all.

Pitch fibre deserves a special mention. The Ombudsman describes it as "wood cellulose impregnated with tar", popular between the 1950s and 1970s, so many post-war homes still have it. If your home was built in that period, a camera survey will confirm the pipe material before you rely on your policy.

Tree root damage and ground movement are handled differently by different insurers, so check your wording and ask the insurer directly.

Is a blocked drain covered?

Sometimes, but it depends on the policy wording and the cause. Insurers look closely at why a drain blocked, so a camera survey showing the reason, such as a displaced joint, a crack or a build-up of fat and wipes, is useful evidence either way.

For a straightforward blockage, compare the cost of clearing it with your policy excess before claiming. Our blocked drain clearance starts from £95 + VAT, with no call-out fee, and the price is agreed before we start.

How do you make a drain damage claim?

1. Make the area safe. Stop using sinks, toilets and appliances that drain into the affected pipe, and keep people away from any sewage.
2. Contact your insurer first. The Ombudsman says you should tell your insurer before starting repairs.
3. Check whether the pipe is shared. If it serves neighbours too, report it to the water company.
4. Get a CCTV drain survey. A camera survey shows the defect, where it is and what the pipe is made of.
5. Keep evidence. If urgent work cannot wait, keep photos, the drainage report and an itemised bill.
6. Keep a record. Note dates, names and reference numbers for every call and email.

What should a drainage report include for an insurer?

A clear, standardised report makes a claim much easier to assess. The Ombudsman expects a drainage report to include condition detail, a pipework diagram, the location of each defect and the pipe material.

In the UK, defects are usually coded to the WRc Manual of Sewer Condition Classification (MSCC5). Domestic repair recommendations often follow the WRc Drain Repair Book (4th edition, 2017), which was produced with the Association of British Insurers' Property Claims Working Group and is widely used by insurers and drain repairers.

Our CCTV surveys are coded to MSCC5 using WinCan software, with a written report, images and repair recommendations. You can read more in our guide to what a CCTV drain survey report shows.

What if your insurer turns down the claim?

Ask the insurer to explain its decision in writing and to say which policy term it relies on. Remember that it is for the insurer to show an exclusion applies. An independent drainage report can help if you disagree with the insurer's findings.

If you are still unhappy, make a formal complaint to the insurer. If it does not resolve things, you can usually take the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service once the insurer has sent its final response, or after eight weeks. The service is free for consumers.

How can you reduce the risk of a rejected claim?

Drain claims often turn on the cause of the damage or the type of pipe, so a little preparation helps:

• Know what your drains are made of. A survey will show whether you have clay, plastic or pitch fibre pipes, which matters for cover.
• Keep your drains maintained. Clear slow drains promptly and keep fats and wipes out, so a small problem does not become a bigger one.
• Fix small defects early. A cracked joint found on a survey is cheaper to repair now than a collapse later, and it avoids arguments about gradual damage.
• Keep your paperwork. Save survey reports, bills and photos of any drainage work, including work done before you bought the property.
• Check cover when you switch policies. Look for how underground services, accidental damage and pitch fibre are treated before you buy.

If you are buying a house, a homebuyer drain survey gives you this information before you commit.

When to call a professional

Get a drainage professional involved as soon as you suspect damage, so you understand the problem before you speak to your insurer. We carry out CCTV drain surveys from £120 + VAT, including a written report covering up to 100 m of accessible runs, and carry out drain repairs and drain relining with a 12-month guarantee on the repair.

We work across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire, 7 days a week from 6am to 8pm. Book a survey or call 07300 600 950.

Sources

• Financial Ombudsman Service: Home insurance and drain damage
• legislation.gov.uk: The Water Industry (Schemes for Adoption of Private Sewers) Regulations 2011
• Severn Trent: Sewer pipe responsibility
• Anglian Water: Report a blocked drain or sewer
• WRc: Drain Repair Book, 4th edition
• WRc: Manual of Sewer Condition Classification, 5th edition