Insurers should fund the replacement of lead pipes, instead of having them repaired, urges Chris Cowen, client relationship manager at Auger, arguing this will cut claims in the long term. Around one-third of all properties built before 1970 in the UK are believed to still contain some level of lead plumbing. Over time, exposure to lead can cause harm, including damage to kidneys, the circulatory system and the brain, with children and pregnant women most vulnerable.
The government has banned the use of lead in many products, and its use in water pipes has been banned since 1970. The advice is that the public should limit its exposure to lead from all sources, including drinking water. If you live in an older property, your supply pipe – the underground pipe that connects your home to the public water mains – could well be made of lead and there is also a chance that there may be lead pipes leading into your home. The only way to completely remove the risk of any harmful effects is to have the lead pipes replaced.
Full replacement
However, in the field of insurance, we too often see lead pipes being repaired rather than replaced in full. Not only is it inevitable that they will burst again but the occupants will continue to be exposed to the harmful lead.
New replacement pipes will usually be blue in colour and made of polyethylene, a plastic which will not degrade and should provide a supply without leaks for many years.
For those reasons, we at Auger advocate a full replacement policy wherever we can – and we’re asking the wider insurance industry to support this initiative.
This is dependent on both insurers and customers contributing financially, and is a far more constructive use of the claim spend. It relies on a shift in attitude from many insurers, and an education exercise for homeowners who can often expect to pay over £1000 for an average pipe replacement depending on a number of things like lengths and surfaces.
If insurers commit to it and offer a full replacement, it means the supply pipe is fixed and guaranteed for the long term, with fewer claims in the long run.
For customers, the benefits are peace of mind, as they’ll be safe in the knowledge that there is no risk of harm from lead and that the supply will be clean and free from leaks for many years.
It is win-win, but needs commitment.
Some utility companies offer to replace their part of the lead supply pipes from the roadside to the domestic supply point at a house or outbuilding free of charge, but only when signing up to their own schemes, which generally means customers paying to have their own internal supply pipe replaced.
Our message to the insurance industry is to join us in this replacement initiative. If you are going to accept a water supply pipe claim, offer the customer the opportunity to replace, instead of just repairing the old lead pipes.
Source - https://www.postonline.co.uk/claims/3261541/blog-insurers-should-support-replacement-of-lead-pipes
