Do you know where the main water valve is in your house? If you get a leak, this can become a very important piece of information. Leaks are among the most common causes of household damage – and in multi-apartment buildings, they account for the single highest proportion of all claims: 35%. The consequences of even minor damage can be very considerable indeed, and often lead to questions of liability. Who precisely should cover the damage? At today’s event, Prepared for the (Un)predictable: Leaks and Liability, which took place at the Triglav Lab, a panel of experts highlighted the fact that prevention, high-quality workmanship and materials and the right insurance can all reduce the risks considerably.
“The washing machine’s leaked and warped the floor”. “The bathroom ceiling is leaking, what do I do?” These are some of the common problems faced by property owners, particularly in apartment buildings, where damage can quickly spread to neighbouring apartments and raise questions of liability.
Joint building insurance is important
“Water leaks are very frequent in practice, particularly in older buildings. Complications can arise as soon as you start trying to work out whether they’re coming from common areas or a specific apartment. There’s often the question of who’s going to cover the cost, which is why it is very important to have joint building insurance – otherwise the damage, which can be significant, could end up being covered by the owners out of their own pockets. The same goes for liability for damage originating from a specific apartment,” said Boštjan Udovič, director of the Chamber of Real Estate at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia.
Prevention, professionalism and the right insurance
“Our experience and figures show that, far from being uncommon, leaks are among the main risks facing almost any householder. They are often the result of worn-out installations, damage to household appliances or simple carelessness, while the consequences can quickly spread from a single apartment – which can lead to questions of precisely who should foot the bill. The risks can be reduced significantly with regular maintenance, high-quality workmanship and the right insurance,” explained Uroš Metličar, director in charge of the North Region at Zavarovalnica Triglav.
For Zoran Simčič, vice-president of the Chamber of Crafts and Small Business of Slovenia, it’s at moments like this, when water begins to leak, that the importance of good workmanship and high-quality materials becomes evident. “Work done professionally and using the right materials can significantly reduce the risk of breakdown and prevent the damage that often affects other householders in the building,” he said.
Joint and several liability
“Owning an apartment can bring with it a host of unexpected responsibilities. Apartment owners bear joint and several liability for damage caused to third parties by events originating from their building. This can be avoided with adequate liability insurance,” explained Dr Miha Juhart, Professor of Civil and Commercial Law at the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana.
At Zavarovalnica Triglav, coverage of liability from land and buildings is included in all home insurance policies. This is liability to third parties for damage originating from the ownership or use of real estate and/or movable property.
Triglav also point out that around 80% of liability insurance payouts from homes and land relate to damage connected with water. This insurance also covers loss that may be sustained by third parties from, say, a roof falling onto a neighbour’s car or a flowerpot onto the head of a passer-by.
You can read more about water damage and liability in this article on the Vse bo v redu website.
