When a pipe bursts, the following may happen:
the wall behind which the pipe is laid may require repainting ;
the wallpaper may need to be replaced;
the wooden flooring may need to be replaced;
the electricity cables and switches may need to be replaced;
the lower part of the furniture such as the dining table, the wardrobes, the beds may be wet, requiring repair or replacement;
water may have seeped through the floor to the unit below, resulting in a claim for the cost of repairs etc. from the tenant below
The reasonable cost of repairs to, or replacement of, the furniture will be paid as Household Contents subject to a policy excess. In some cases, the claim payment is also subject to a deduction for wear and tear.
The cost of replacing the electricity cables and switches, repainting the wall or replacing the wallpaper is not payable under the Household Contents Section of the Policy as the wall, wiring and switches form part of a Building. However such cost can be paid, subject to a policy excess, if you have purchased the Building Section of the Policy. The same situation would apply to the wooden flooring.
It is worth noting that unless there is clear evidence to show that the pipe burst is caused by an external accident e.g. someone has struck the wall hard to break it and subsequently the pipe, the cost of repairing or replacing a burst pipe is not covered under any insurance policy. As pipes are usually hidden behind and protected by walls, if they burst it is most likely to be caused by their own wear and tear (which is a common exclusion by insurance policies) unless there is obvious external force.
As to the claim from the landlord below, the Personal Liability Section of the Policy will help you take care of this. Whether the Policy will eventually pay out depends on whether you are legally responsible for the burst and the subsequent escape of water to the floor below. If it is proven that the water damage occurred because of your negligence, the Policy will pay the indemnity after recovering from you a policy excess. If you are not responsible for the water damage, the Policy will not pay the tenant below.
In order for the insurance company to handle the claim on your behalf, please ensure that you comply with the Claims Conditions.
Subject to a few exceptions and a maximum limit, your Household Contents are covered under the Policy in the course of your household removal if this is done through the service of a professional remover. Please refer to your Policy for the amount of the maximum limit. Each loss is also subject to a policy excess as stated in the Policy.
The items of Household Contents which are not covered in this situation are:
Money
Valuable Property
fragile items which are unsuitably packed
If the domestic helper causes the damage or the injury while she is working for you, e.g. when she is cleaning the windows at home or shopping in the supermarket for your household needs, legally you are liable for her acts. In this situation, the Policy will provide cover for you.
If the domestic helper causes the damage or the injury while she is acting for herself only, e.g. when she is on leave, you are not legally liable for her acts. Under these circumstances, the Policy will not provide cover for such damage or injury.
Firstly, it has to be determined whether the window frame is an original fixture or the insured’s own improvement and the coverage of the policy. iHome Insurance policy covers household improvement under home contents section. Household improvement refers to improvements and betterments to walls, windows, ceilings, floors or doors, which then cease to be the property’s original fixtures as purchased. Therefore, if the insured has made improvements to the original window frames, he/ she should make a claim under his/her home contents insurance.
By contrast, if there is no improvement or betterment made to the window frames, they will be regarded as part of the building structure and will only be covered by the building section which is an optional cover to iHome Insurance policy. If you have purchased the Building Section, the replacement cost of the window frame is covered by the Policy as long as the cause of its fall is not excluded by the Policy.
Customers are advised to consider taking out a home contents insurance with a building section as the optional cover in order to enjoy comprehensive coverage.
Unfortunately you cannot. The Household Contents Section is the basic cover of iHome Insurance Policy which is mandatory for purchase. If your apartment is let together with your furniture and electrical appliances, iHome Insurance Policy will provide relevant cover. In your case where you are not residing in the insured apartment, the cover will be limited to any loss of or damages to the household contents caused by the named perils such as fire, explosion, flood, typhoon, etc.
