Septic tank insurance and wear and tear

'Wear and tear' is a phrase we hear a lot in dealing with insurance claims for damaged septic tanks, cesspits, soakaways and treatment plants. Some insurers will call it 'gradual deterioration'. Either way, it’s a phrase which is often used when an insurer or loss adjuster turns a claim down. Your insurance policy is there to cover what’s classed as 'accidental damage' – but knowing exactly what has caused a drainage system to stop working can often be very difficult. After all, these systems are underground, so often you will only see (or smell!) the after effects of them not working, you won’t see the problem happening.

So how do you know if the damage to your property’s septic tank or other drainage system is 'accidental damage' or 'wear and tear'? We sometimes see obvious types of accidental damage in the claims that we handle, such as vehicle movement over a system causing it to break. However, often it is not that clear cut, and we see many claims incorrectly labelled by insurers or loss adjusters as not covered due to wear and tear. This can often come from a lack of technical understanding on how these systems work – and more importantly, what stops them working.

UKDP partners with specialist contractors, and together we combine highly technical knowledge of drainage systems with in-depth knowledge of what should and shouldn’t be covered by buildings insurance policies.

Call our team today and we can talk through the problems you might be having, sending one of our team out to visit your property if needed.

Similarly, if you have already contacted your insurer and been told that your property’s drainage system has failed due to wear and tear, or anything similar, give our team a call.

There is every chance your insurer may have been incorrect in their decision, and we can work on your behalf to ensure that the correct decision is made.