A stain appeared on the ceiling after the rain and the insurer said it won’t pay? This is one of the hardest situations to understand. It comes down to one simple difference: insurance pays for accidents, not for wear and tear.
Accident or wear and tear?
Home insurance pays for what is sudden and unexpected: a pipe that bursts, wind that rips tiles off the roof. Water that gets in little by little, through a crack, a worn seal or a roof in poor condition, is seen as lack of maintenance. And looking after the house is always the owner’s job.
In practice
| What happened | Does insurance usually pay? |
|---|---|
| A storm rips off roof tiles and rain comes in through the gap | Usually yes |
| A pipe bursts inside the wall | Usually yes |
| Heavy rain gets in through a poorly sealed window | Usually no |
| Water gets in through cracks in the wall, roof or terrace | Usually no |
| A damp patch that has been growing for months | Usually no |
| Mould and condensation | Usually no |
“Usually yes” means it tends to be covered, if you have that cover in your policy (storm or water damage) and the case meets the policy conditions. With a burst pipe, insurance pays for the damage the water caused; finding the leak and fixing the pipe itself are not always included. Many covers also have an excess («franquia»), a part of the loss that you always pay yourself.
Why the storm doesn’t always count
For insurance, a storm means really strong wind: many policies require more than 90 km/h, or damage to several buildings in the area. Even then, rain that gets into the house is usually covered only when the wind broke or ripped something off first: roof tiles, a window, a skylight. If the water came in through the roof, a window or the terrace and nothing was broken, most policies will not pay. The same goes for a window that was left open.
What the loss adjuster looks for
When you make a claim, the loss adjuster will look for where the water came from. These signs show it was already getting in before the storm:
- Old stains, mould or peeling paint
- Dried-out sealant around the windows
- Roof tiles that have been broken or out of place for a long time
- Gutters and drains full of leaves
- Old cracks in the walls or on the terrace
Six things to do before winter
- Gutters and drains: clean the gutters and the drains on terraces and balconies, ideally in autumn.
- Roof: ask a professional to check for broken or loose tiles.
- Windows and doors: check the seals and the sealant, including on skylights.
- Trees: have old trees, or trees with weak branches close to the house, pruned.
- Bad weather warning: close windows and shutters and bring in whatever is on the balcony or in the garden.
- Empty house: if the house is empty for long periods, ask someone to check on it after a storm.
Keep the proof
Keep the invoices for cleaning and repairs and take a few photos from time to time. They help show the house was looked after. And when a stain appears, don’t wait: the longer you leave it, the harder it is to show where the water came from.
We can review your insurance with you
If you want to know what your home insurance covers, or would like a quote, email us at segurosgamboa@segurosgamboa.pt with these details:
- Full name and NIF (tax number)
- Postcode of the property
- Type of home (apartment or house)
- Year of construction
- Area in m² and number of bathrooms
- Phone number
General information only. It does not replace reading your policy conditions. Each claim is assessed by the insurer. Cover, limits and exclusions vary between insurers and may change.