Not upheld: claim declined - policy exclusion complaint against Watford Insurance Company Europe Limited

Decision detail

Summary

Mr F claimed on his buildings insurance policy with Watford for damage caused by a leak from his shower cubicle. Watford declined the claim, citing that the leak was caused by a failed seal on the shower cubicle door, which is not covered under the policy's household leaks section as it is not from a pipe or appliance. The ombudsman upheld Watford's decision, finding that a shower cubicle door is fitted sanitary furniture rather than an appliance, and therefore the damage falls outside the policy's coverage. The ombudsman also rejected the argument that the damage could be covered under accidental damage provisions, as the evidence indicated gradual water escape rather than a single one-off event.

The Ombudsman's reasoning

The ombudsman examined the policy wording for household leaks coverage, which only covers leaks from 'pipes or appliances'. The shower cubicle door is neither a pipe nor an appliance in the ordinary everyday meaning of the word - it is fitted sanitary furniture. Therefore, the damage does not fall within the household leaks section. The ombudsman also considered accidental damage cover but found no evidence of a single one-off event; instead, the evidence indicated water escaping over a longer period, suggesting gradual wear and tear rather than accidental damage.

How this compares

Source

Read the original decision on the Financial Ombudsman Service website