There are many ways homeowners can take reasonable precautions to prevent damage to their property. Taking precautions would evidence that you kept the property in a good state of repair, and took action to mitigate loss, if you needed to make a claim.
These are few examples:
• Regular checks of guttering. Blocked gutters are a common cause of water ingress into homes. Making regular checks not only reduces the likelihood of damage from a blocked gutter, but if you document these checks, it can help prove you’ve taken steps to mitigate the risk.
• Get repairs done as soon as possible. For example, if a pipe starts leaking, get it repaired quickly. If you don’t and the poorly maintained pipe then fails and causes water damage, your insurer is likely to argue that you didn’t mitigate the risk. Homeowners and landlords also have a responsibility to mitigate their liability to others – for example by fixing a leaking pipe before it damages a neighbour’s property, or securing a loose tile before it damages a passing vehicle or injures a pedestrian.
• Take necessary steps to prevent further damage. If you can reasonably take temporary measures to prevent further damage, you should do so. Putting a tarpaulin over a hole in the roof is one example. Turning off the water mains in the event of a leak is another.
• Always ‘make safe’ in an emergency. If necessary, call in a professional such as a gas engineer or plumber to make your property safe. The cost of this may be covered by your home insurance policy, or, depending on your policy cover, your insurer may have a helpline you can call to arrange an emergency call-out.