Does Home Insurance Cover Damp? What You Need to Know

Discovering significant damp damage in your home raises an immediate question: is this covered by insurance? The short answer is: it depends — but most types of damp are not covered.

What Insurance Typically Covers

Standard buildings insurance covers sudden and unforeseen damage — a burst pipe flooding a room, for instance. If a pipe bursts inside a wall and causes the plaster to fail, you may have a valid claim.

What Insurance Typically Does NOT Cover

• Rising damp (considered a maintenance issue)
• Penetrating damp caused by lack of maintenance (failed gutters, missing pointing)
• Condensation and mould
• Gradual deterioration of any kind

Insurers take the view that gradual damp damage is the result of a maintenance failure — something the homeowner should have noticed and addressed. They're generally not wrong.

When You Might Have a Valid Claim

• Sudden escape of water from pipes within the structure
• Storm damage to the roof causing sudden water ingress
• Flooding (with appropriate flood cover)

Tips for Making a Claim

1. Document the damage thoroughly with photos before any work is carried out
2. Obtain a professional report from a damp specialist identifying the cause
3. Keep all receipts for emergency work
4. Report the claim as soon as possible

Getting a Damp Report

If you need a professional damp report for insurance purposes, Shadbolt Plastering can provide detailed written surveys across South London and Surrey.