Does Insurance Cover Trace and Access?
You’ve got a hidden water leak, and someone’s mentioned “trace and access” on your buildings insurance. Here’s what it actually means — and how to use it properly.
What is trace and access cover?
Trace and access is a common feature of buildings insurance. In broad terms it covers the reasonable cost of finding a hidden leak (the trace) and getting to it (the access — for example lifting a floor), and often making good the access afterwards. It is separate from the cost of repairing the pipe itself and from the resulting water damage, which other parts of a policy may deal with. (Full explainer: What is trace and access?)
So — will my insurance cover it?
Many buildings policies include trace and access cover, but not all, and limits vary. Typical policies set a cover limit and expect the leak to be from a defined insured source. The only way to know for certain is your own policy wording or a call to your insurer. We can’t promise what any insurer will pay — anyone who does should be treated with caution. What we can do is give your claim the evidence it needs.
What insurers usually want to see
- Professional detection — the leak located with recognised methods (thermal imaging, acoustic, tracer gas, moisture mapping), not guesswork holes.
- A written report — cause, location, evidence photos, and method. This is our core service: insurance-ready reports.
- Proportionate access — targeted access at the located point, not exploratory damage.
DML provides exactly this package on our Trace & Access service: non-invasive detection, insurer-ready documentation, and clear findings you can hand straight to your claims handler.
What if the leak caused damp or mould?
Long-running leaks often leave damp walls or mould behind. We can assess that at the same visit — see damp surveys and mould inspections — and include it in the report where relevant to the claim.
The practical route (what to do now)
- Stop the immediate damage (isolate water if you can; for urgent situations use our emergency leak detection).
- Check your policy for “trace and access” (or ask your insurer or broker).
- Book the detection survey — fixed price confirmed up front.
- Send the report to your insurer with your claim.
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Related services: Leak Detection · Trace & Access · Insurance Leak Investigations · Damp Surveys · Mould Inspections · Contact