Suncorp Refuses to Pay for Leaking Roof. Is That Acceptable?

nickbose on 08/03/2017 - 23:22
Last edited 09/03/2017 - 10:11 by 1 other user

I have Suncorp home and content insurance for my house which was bought brand new 3 years ago.
Lounge room at the front developed a stain on the ceiling. I called Suncorp. They sent an inspector who said it might be from a gap on the balcony. They applied some sealant and asked us to wait and see.

The stain slowly got larger. I called again.

This time they sent a "specialist plumber" with a very cool thermo scanner. He spray the balcony and the roof in front of the balcony and concluded the water was leaking down from the roof at the front.
Suncorp then said they would fix the ceiling but NOT the leaking roof as it is a "maintenance" issue in other words wear and tear!

I don't agree with that and think it should be covered. What are the advice from you guys? How should I deal with them? VCAT? Ombudsman?

Poll Options

• 3
  Suncorp should pay for the leaking roof
• 28
  No a leaking roof is usually not covered by home and content insurance

Related Stores

Suncorp

• 

  captobvious on 08/03/2017 - 23:29

  +3

  Suncorp PDS

  Wear, tear and gradual deterioration
  wear, tear, rust, fading, rising damp, mould, mildew, corrosion, rot, action of light, atmospheric or
  climatic conditions or gradual deterioration such as
  but not limited to
  :
  – tiles and their adhesive or grouting breaking down;
  – weathering of roof tiles or roof ridge capping;
  – gradual weathering and breakdown of bricks, mortar or concrete.

  You will have to tell suncorp it was caused by a storm, hail, debris something if you want it fully covered under insurance.

• 

  [Deactivated] on 08/03/2017 - 23:58

  +8

  I may be wrong, but In nsw the builder would be required to fix it as it is only 3 years old.

• 

  Stewardo on 09/03/2017 - 00:03

  Yeah it's still under warranty from the builder should have called them.
  6.5 years I think

• 

  nickbose on 09/03/2017 - 00:04

  +1

  I want to add that the stain happened probably a year ago. So my point is a 2 years old house roof leaking is not "wear and tear" but rather a defect in the building process.
  I did contact the builder but they said problem like this is only covered for 6 months and asked me to contact my building insurer which is Suncorp.
  I live in Victoria. The builder is responsible for "structural" issues for 7 years. Is leaking roof considered such a problem?

  • 

    Stewardo on 09/03/2017 - 00:13

    Does the balcony have tiles, might be the waterproofing?

  • 

    captobvious on 09/03/2017 - 00:20

    Builder fooled you at 6 months. Suncorp would tell you a building defect is between you and your builder and the circle goes round.

    If you find a crack running through where it is leaking then you can prove structural

    If there is no crack and it was just a bad build then you should get intouch with your builder. An unhappy customer at a display house when other potential clients are around would be a good way to get their attention if they call screen andignore you over the phone.

    This is unlikely an insurance issue and the repairers that attended your place would have provided suncorp a report with pictures.

• 

  Richardc on 09/03/2017 - 00:22

  3 yrs warranty for a brand new home?

• 

  noshopping on 09/03/2017 - 00:26

  I have Suncorp home and content insurance for my house which was bought brand new 3 years ago.

  Most states cover up to 6/7 years. Had a balcony that completely rotted inside by bad install by builder, 5.5 years into build I complained and said I would take it to building authority/ACCC if it was not fixed. They sent people to repair it at a cost of up to $4000 (covered by them)

  If you buy a brand new electronic item, you get 24 months MANDATORY warranty. You bought a house, which is suppose to last longer than 3 years.

  • 

    djkelly69 on 09/03/2017 - 22:10

    +1

    If you buy a brand new electronic item, you get 24 months MANDATORY warranty.

    Source?

• 

  Geewhizz on 09/03/2017 - 08:18

  +2

  I'd be getting onto the builder. It's his responsibility, not Suncorp's.

• 

  Thiefsie on 09/03/2017 - 08:24

  +1

  Builder's responsibility. Go to VBA (a process, but might help) if necessary.

• 

  djkelly69 on 09/03/2017 - 22:08

  Taken from here:

  Domestic building insurance
  By law, builders or tradespeople must take out domestic building insurance for their clients when the cost of the works exceeds $16,000.

  This insurance only gives you limited cover.

  Domestic building insurance, previously known as ‘builders warranty insurance’, protects consumers in the event their builder or tradesperson cannot finish the building project or fix defects because they have:

  • died
  • become insolvent, or
  • disappeared.

  If your policy was issued on or after 1 July 2015, it also provides cover if the builder fails to comply with a final order made by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) or a court.

  Your builder or tradesperson must provide you with a copy of the policy and a certificate of insurance covering your property before you pay a deposit or any other money.

  Domestic building insurance covers costs up to $300,000 to fix structural defects for six years, and non-structural defects for two years. Claims on the policy for work that was not completed may be limited to only 20 per cent of the contract price.

  In all other cases, your builder or tradesperson is required to fix or complete works in accordance with the contract.

  A leaking roof is very likely a non-structural issue, so looks like you are out of time. Although Consumer Affairs Vic or relevant authority may be interested to hear about the builder misleading/lying to you about how long they have to fix things for.

  As for insurance, seems right to me. They usually cover the damage caused by a water leak, not repairs to the cause of the water leak.