Financial Ombudsman Service On Mold
What Financial Ombudsman Service says about mold, insurance and cleanup, with each line linked to its page.
What Is Excluded
In one case the ombudsman agreed a claim could be turned down because the damage came from condensation, which policies treat as gradual.
excludes cover for damage caused gradually over time, like damp or mould.
In another case the ombudsman agreed mould on walls and ceilings was not sudden damage.
Mould takes time to develop indicating that there is an ongoing
How To Make A Claim
The ombudsman ordered an insurer to pay £2,000 for delays that left a family living with damp and mould after a leak claim.
So I’m satisfied that an award of £2,000 compensation reflects the impact of
Good To Know
The ombudsman says mould usually builds up over time and does not appear suddenly.
For example, mould isn’t usually something that suddenly appears.
If an insurer uses an exclusion to turn down a claim, the insurer has to prove the exclusion applies.
if you’re relying on an exclusion, then it’s your responsibility to prove it applies to the claim.
The ombudsman is likely to say a claim should be paid if the customer could not reasonably have known the damage was building up.
we think the customer couldn’t reasonably have been aware of the damage happening gradually