does home owners insurance cover water damage?

Question

My toilet water valve broke and leaked throughout the floor.
I had a friend come over and check out the damage and he said that the floor needs to be replaced becuase it is about to fall through. The water soaked through the floor and damaged the downstairs apartments ceilings. Their ceiling is now falling down and needs to be replaced as well. Will home owners insurance cover this?

The friend never made a repair he just said that the floor needs to be replaced.
Also, its not an apartment i live in a duplex shared with my aunt. It is her toliet that ruined my ceiling in the bathroom.

Answer 1

Yes it should, however you didn't indicate who made the repair, if your friend did then you may have a problem. The insurance company may require some proof at to the cause of the problem. If you used a plumber then his statement should satisfy the insurance company, maybe you have the receipt for the repair part.

I gather you are a tenant, such insurance would normally be carried by the owner of the property.

Answer 2

Most do, yes, but you said something about an apartment. That may be a different situation. You need to read the policy and/or call your agent and they will tell you.

I would definitely ask your agent whether it is covered ASAP so repairs can be started. If you wait too long and it causes more damage, the insurance company can either deny coverage, or limit it because you did not take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. And trust me, a good adjuster can tell recent damage from old damage.

Answer 3

Your policy should cover but depending on the repair and your deducible you will have to figure out which out weighs the other. I had a hot water heater bust while I was on vacation. I had a ton of damage. My deductible is high but it was well worth paying it for the amount of repairs I had. Call your insurance company and they will have an adjuster come out and check the damage but make sure they look at everything including electrical. I ran into the problem with electrical and the adjuster never allotted for that damage on the adjustment. Good luck it is a headache!!

Answer 4

In general, homeowner's policies cover costs associated with "sudden" water-related damages like these. Homeowner's policies are less likely to cover the cost of damage caused by the gradual leakage or buildup of water on your home's floors or walls. Even gradual leaks concealed by furniture, appliances or structural supports may not be covered. When you file a claim for damages caused by gradual leaks, your claims adjuster may argue that the issue is maintenance-related and shouldn't be covered under the terms of your policy.
In fact, your policy almost certainly contains a stipulation that absolves your insurance provider of liability for damages caused by improper maintenance. In other words, you're expected to maintain detailed records of maintenance work performed on your house and keep close tabs on the health of your home's plumbing, piping and appliances. You'll also need to check for leaks and water damage in hard-to-see areas of your kitchen, basement and bathrooms.
If your toilet has been properly maintained, it's possible that your homeowner's insurance policy will cover damages associated with a leaking seal. In accordance with the general policies of your provider, you'll need to prove either that the seal was defective or that the leak responsible for the damages happened suddenly. If the toilet was installed by a professional, you'll have a better chance of obtaining compensation for the damage. Be sure to keep copies of your purchase receipts as well as the work order for the installation itself.
On the other hand, you may not be compensated for a slow leak that never seemed serious enough - http://insripoffs.blogspot.dk/

Answer 5

Hopefully, you had the insurance company inspect any damages before having it fixed. It should be covered but there are rules that go along with it.

Answer 6

You would have to have your agent look at the policy and read it for you. Not all policies are the same. They very according to the area and, company, what one will cover, the other will shy away from.

Answer 7

my bathroom is falling apart my tub shower wall is 1pc and that pc is pulling from the wall the floor is weak