Does home insurance cover leak detection?

Sudden damage vs gradual wear

The distinction most insurers draw is between sudden and accidental damage and gradual deterioration. A pipe that bursts and floods a room is usually treated differently from a shower that’s been slowly leaking for years through perished waterproofing. Many policies will consider the former and exclude the latter — but the wording varies a lot between insurers, so your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) is the thing that actually governs it.

This is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Your cover depends entirely on your policy — check your PDS and talk to your insurer.

Where a leak detection report helps

Whatever your policy says, an insurer needs evidence to assess a claim: where the water is coming from, what’s causing it, and proof. That’s exactly what a leak detection report provides — the location, the likely cause, moisture readings and photo evidence, documented clearly. Some policies also cover the reasonable cost of the detection work itself when it’s needed to locate damage.

What to do before you claim

A few practical steps help:

• Don’t rush to repair before the cause is documented — evidence is easier to capture first.
• Photograph the damage and keep any prior reports or correspondence.
• Get the leak properly located so the cause is clear, not guessed.
• Read your PDS and call your insurer to confirm what’s covered before work starts.

We often work alongside homeowners, strata managers and insurers at the detection stage, providing the documented findings a claim needs.