Home Insurance Claim - leak three months ago, is it too late too claim?

Question

does anyone know whether I could make a claim for water damage to my kitchen which occured approx three months ago-or is it too late?

We didnt think to put in a claim at the time (water from upstairs bathroom leaked straight down into the kitchen) as we managed to mop up and clear the water and dry everything up.

However over the last month or so a crack in the ceiling has developed and now the ceiling has a 'bulge' in it which looks like its going to give way - also the work tops and cabinets have deteriorated due to the water and there is a noticable damp smell in the sink cupboards again from the water and on top of that the wallpaper is now also peeling.

Im now thinking it was a bad mistake not to have put in a claim,

Is it now too late?

Answer 1

Did you ever get the leak fixed?

The only thing you can do is turn in the claim and see what happens. The insurance company will inspect the damage and review your policy.

When it comes to water damage- most policies provide limited coverage for that. Since we have not seen the damage to your home nor read the language in your policy we can't tell you if it will be covered or not.

You may want to speak with your agent about this. They can help guide you.

Answer 2

It is not too late to put in a claim, just be sure to document when the damage occurred, how it occurred and what you have done so far to correct the problem.

One thing to be very cautious of, once you have filed this claim, whether or not you actually collect anything on it, it becomes a part of your "insurance record".  A water damage claim can hurt you when you try to sell your home as people may fear a mold problem.  Also, it could affect your rates.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Nobody here knows.  

It's not uncommon to see a clause in an insurance policy, that says you have to notify them within 30 days if you have a water damage claim.  It's also not uncommon to see an exclusion for rot, or slow seeping claims.

I don't think the cabinet damage is due to a one time water issue.  It sounds like this has been happening over time.

You really need to ask your agent, if 1.  it's covered at all and 2.  if the new crack, which indicates more water damage, could be a second incident.

Answer 4

It won't hurt to try,but the standard rule for claims are typically 30 days or less,depending on the company guidelines.

Answer 5

Did you get some estimates yet?   Make sure it is worth it to put in the claim.

No, it's not to late.  You need to dig up any reciepts for things you already paid for.  That all counts toward your deductible.

Answer 6

Is too late to file a claim? Probably not (impossible to say for sure without seeing your policy wordings). Will this claim be covered? It depends on what you've done since the initial incident. You stated water from upstairs bathroom leaked into the kitchen. So was the leaked repaired, or has water still been slowly leaking into the kitchen? If you did have the leak repaired, then it would be covered (keep in mind any damage from mold would not be covered). If you did not have the leak repaired and water has still been slowly running into the kitchen, then your damages would not be covered, as it is a requirement of the policy that you take whatever steps necessary to prevent further loss. Something tells me if the bulge in the ceiling has been forming over the last month, and the initial event occurred three months ago, water is still leaking. Therefore, IMHO, your claim would be denied.