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Apartment Water Leaks Can Cause Over 10,000 Euros in Damage
๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ Slovenia /Disasters & Emergencies

Apartment Water Leaks Can Cause Over 10,000 Euros in Damage

From Delo · () Slovenian

Translated from Slovenian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Water damage remains the most frequent cause of insurance claims for apartments, averaging between 1,000 and 1,500 euros per incident.
  • While water damage is common, extreme weather events like wind and hail caused the most significant damage in 2023, with fires and floods leading to potentially hundreds of thousands of euros in costs.
  • Experts warn that insufficient investment in building maintenance, outdated installations, and inadequate insurance coverage are leading to increasing future damages, with some claims being denied due to pipe deterioration.

In Slovenia, the reality of property damage is starkly illustrated by the insights shared by experts from Zavarovalnica Triglav, GZS, and Zdruลพenje upravnikov nepremiฤnin. Delo reports that despite growing awareness, a lack of substantial investment in maintenance and proper insurance continues to expose homeowners to escalating risks. Water damage, though often less severe than fires or floods, remains the most persistent issue, with average costs around 1,500 euros, but capable of reaching over 10,000 euros in individual cases.

The average damage from water leakage is between one and 1,500 euros.

โ€” Uroลก MetliฤarDirector of the northern region at Zavarovalnica Triglav, detailing the typical cost of water damage incidents.

The article points to a concerning trend where extreme weather, amplified by climate change, is increasingly contributing to property damage. While basic insurance covers events like fires and storms, crucial protections against floods and earthquakes often require additional policies. This highlights a gap in preparedness, leaving many Slovenian homeowners vulnerable to catastrophic financial losses.

In Slovenia, the safety and resilience of a building still have a relatively small impact on property prices.

โ€” Boลกtjan UdoviฤDirector of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia's real estate business association, commenting on the market's valuation of building safety.

Furthermore, the piece delves into the critical issue of building maintenance. Many apartment owners neglect their responsibility towards common property, leading to problems with aging installations and pipes. This neglect not only results in frequent water leaks but also causes insurance companies to deny claims due to the deterioration of infrastructure. As emphasized by the association of property managers, each rejected claim demotivates owners, potentially undermining the entire insurance system and leaving properties in a precarious state. The Slovenian perspective underscores a collective need for greater responsibility and investment in securing our homes against both common and extreme risks.

Every rejected claim is very demotivating for future insurance.

โ€” Aleลก UrevcPresident of the Association of Property Managers, explaining the negative impact of claim denials on homeowners' willingness to insure.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delo in Slovenian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.