Explainer Water damage · 5 min by Krantz & Polak
A leak in your home: step-by-step plan and what is insured
From stopping the water to the claim: the right order of steps in the event of a leak, and which costs are generally covered.
A leak calls for swift, calm action. With the right order of steps you limit the damage and protect your claim.
Step by step
- Stop the supply. Turn off the mains water and, if the leak is at an appliance, the supply to that appliance as well.
- Mind the electricity. Is there water near sockets or the meter cupboard? Then switch off the electricity in that room.
- Limit the damage. Catch the water, move dry belongings, mop up and ventilate. This is your duty to mitigate — keep your receipts.
- Find the cause. Call in a plumber. If the leak cannot be found, a specialist leak detection survey can provide the answer.
- Record everything. Photograph and film before you clear up; note the date, time and cause.
- Report the damage to your insurer and ask for a claim number.
What is generally insured?
- The consequential damage to walls, floors, ceilings and contents caused by a sudden leak.
- The breaking-open work needed to reach the pipe, and the repair of that work.
What often is not?
- The repair of the leak or the pipe itself.
- Damage caused by groundwater, penetrating damp or overdue maintenance.
- A slowly seeping leak that went unnoticed for a long time.
Please note — The line between ‘sudden’ and ‘gradual’, and between repairing the leak and consequential damage, often determines the outcome. When in doubt, an independent assessment pays off.
When is your own expert a wise choice?
Not for every minor claim — but in these situations your own counter-expert almost always achieves a better and fairer outcome:
- The damage is substantial (guideline: from around € 5,000).
- The insurer doubts your account or accuses you of intent, negligence or fraud.
- The cause or circumstances are unclear — often with fire or water damage.
- An exclusion or deduction is invoked that you do not understand.
- There is underinsurance, or discussion about current value and depreciation.
- There is business interruption loss on top of the damage to property or contents.
- Your claim has been (partly) rejected.
- Before you sign — or before the insurer's expert records the damage one-sidedly.
Not sure whether it makes sense in your case? A first check costs nothing.
What you can do next
Three pages with a concrete answer to common follow-up questions.
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What does a counter-expert cost?
Answer in 1 minute, with verbatim quotes from Kifid and the Dutch Consumer Association.
Read about costs -
How do we work?
Our step-by-step approach — from first inspection to final settlement.
See our approach -
Why 100% independent?
Comparison with hybrid agencies + 3 verification questions you can ask.
Our independence
Also relevant
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Which water damage is usually insured — and which is not?
The cause often determines everything. A clear overview of what is generally reimbursed — and what is not.
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The first 24 hours after fire or water damage
A clear step-by-step plan for the first, chaotic hours. What do you do first, and what can wait a little?
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Mould and hidden moisture after water damage
Water drains away where you cannot see it. Hidden moisture and mould sometimes only surface weeks later.
Just had damage?
Call us or report your claim online. We usually respond within 24 hours.