How insurance will treat my slab water leak?

[Mazyar A.]

Hi

I bought a fixer upper duplex a few weeks ago to keep it as a rental property. I have started slab foundation repair, which has resulted damages to sewer and fresh water pipelines.

Sewer line is visibly cracked somewhere, but leaks could possibly exist in other spots in the slab.

Fresh water line is visibly gushing under slab, definitely as a result of lifting the house.

I also have “Water Back Up and Sump Discharge or Overflow” coverage, but not sure that is relevant.

Do you think the dwelling coverage of my home insurance will cover it?

I know that they will have their own interpretation of the situation, but should I push the insurance to consider the slab being damaged by sewer water over years (I’ve had it only for a few weeks), or should I ask them to cover me because the foundation repair has caused the sewer line damage, as well as fresh water line damage.

Thank you.

[Jason Bott]

@Mazyar A. sorry your running into this issue.  A few comment,

*If you are using an insured contractor, you could try and file a claim under their General Liability policy, but it sounds like you are doing the wok yourself?

*Water Sewer back up would not respond in this case.

*Intentional Acts are excluded on all insurance policies. I believe any claim adjuster would go to that Exclusion first.  They would state "You intentionally lifted the property which cased the damage to the pipes, therefore it's not covered".

*If you purchased a Builders Risk policy, maybe your would have some coverage

Lastly, you only will know for sure if you formally file the claim.  Best of luck with it.