Insurers are profiting from our fear of making a claim

It’s officially summer but not in New Malden. I got home at 7pm last night in near darkness and pouring rain. Normally, closing the front door behind me and casting off my rain gear is enough to bring some relief. But not this time. The rain followed me in.

As I walked into my kitchen I was greeted by an all too familiar sound – drip, drip, drip. My leak is back. The long story cut short is that water is getting in where the single-storey kitchen extension joins the old back wall – and not for the first time.

I’ve previously spent more than £2,000 trying to put it right. The fix lasted a while but, now that’s no longer the case, I’m in a dilemma. Do I start the tedious process of begging local builders who are up to their necks in loft extensions to come take a look at my little leak? Or do I bite the bullet and call my buildings insurer and let them sort it out?

On the one hand, getting the insurer involved would save me time and hassle and make use of those premiums I’ve been paying.