The insulation gets damaged, and then somebody has to pay to put it right. That question has several possible answers depending on the property, and it is worth knowing which apply before assuming the worst.
Household insurance
Start by reading the policy rather than assuming, and read the exclusions as well as the cover. Two points come up repeatedly:
- Damage caused by vermin, rodents or pests is very commonly excluded from buildings and contents cover. That exclusion generally captures the insulation damage itself
- Consequential water damage may be treated differently. Where a gnawed pipe has caused an escape of water, or a breached roof covering has let rain in, that may fall under a different section — and insurers will usually want to see that the cause was addressed promptly
It costs nothing to ask the insurer the question, and the answer is specific to the wording rather than general.
Energy efficiency schemes
Loft insulation has been supported by government-backed schemes for many years, and the schemes, the eligibility rules and the funding change regularly. Because of that, the sensible route is to check what is currently available rather than to rely on what was true a year or two ago.
Eligibility commonly turns on things like the property's energy rating, the existing depth of insulation and the household's circumstances. Both owner-occupied and rented property have featured in various schemes. It is worth a look before paying for the work outright.
Rented property
- The insulation is part of the structure, so reinstating it ordinarily sits with the landlord rather than the tenant
- Rented homes have to meet a minimum energy efficiency standard to be let, and a loft with a season of damage in it works against that
- Report it in writing. A dated record of when it was noticed and what was reported is what settles this later
- Tenant belongings are a separate question from the building, and usually a matter for contents cover rather than the landlord
Leasehold flats
Where the roof space is not part of the demise — which is common for a top-floor flat — the roof, the structure and frequently the insulation are the freeholder's responsibility, and the work is usually organised through the managing agent. The cost may then come back through the service charge, which is worth understanding early rather than late.
Whatever the tenure, document it. Photographs of the damage before anything is cleared, dated notes of when the noise started, and a written report to whoever is responsible. That record costs one evening and is what every one of these conversations turns on.
And the part nobody covers
Contaminated belongings stored in the loft are generally the household's own loss, and are the reason plastic boxes and keeping irreplaceable things elsewhere are worth more than they look.
Questions
Will my insurance pay for it?
Read the policy. Damage caused by vermin is commonly excluded, though consequential water damage is sometimes treated separately.
Are there grants for loft insulation?
Schemes exist and the rules change regularly, so check what is currently available rather than relying on older information.
I rent. Who reinstates it?
The insulation is part of the structure, so it ordinarily sits with the landlord. Report it in writing.
Squirrel Control Haverhill
Squirrel control in Haverhill is £280 fixed cost. Proofing work, where it is needed afterwards, is £180. Call 01502 630 122 and tell us what you have heard or seen.
For squirrel control in Haverhill, call 01502 630 122, or read the Haverhill squirrel control page.