MoneyLog｜부동산·경제 인사이트

“We’re getting water leakage from your unit…”

Just one call like this can make your mind go blank.
You feel rushed to fix it immediately, worried the cost will grow bigger by the minute.

So most people react like this:
“Let’s call a repair company first.”

But this decision can be very risky.

👉 If handled incorrectly,
you may end up paying thousands to tens of thousands of dollars out of your own pocket.

In real cases,
many leak accidents result in no insurance payout—even when coverage exists.

Why does this happen?

There’s only one reason:
people miss the key points.

In this post, we’ll walk through
the 3 critical factors that determine whether you get compensated or not.

✔ Who actually owns the pipes?
✔ Why rental properties often fail to qualify for claims
✔ The crucial difference between liability and property damage insurance

If you understand these three,
you can prevent major financial loss.

Let’s break it down step by step.

| Key 1: Liability Depends on Pipe Ownership

The very first thing you must check in a leak accident is simple:

👉 “Who owns the pipe?”

Many people assume:
“If the leak happened in my unit, I must be responsible.”

But insurance works differently.

Responsibility is based on ownership, not occupancy.

Here are the key rules:

- Private pipes → Owner is responsible
- Shared pipes → Building management is responsible
- Tenant living in the unit → Owner’s insurance applies

A very common case:
Parents own the home, but the child lives there.

👉 If a leak occurs,
the parent’s insurance—not the child’s—must be used.

Many claims are denied simply because
people file under the wrong insurance.

👉 Always confirm ownership before filing a claim.

| Key 2: Rental Property Coverage After 2020 Policy Change

If you rent out a property,
this is something you must check.

👉 “Does my insurance cover my rental property?”

The answer depends on two factors:
policy date and address registration.

Key rule:

- After April 2020 → Coverage may include rental properties
- Before April 2020 → Likely excluded (needs confirmation)

However, the most common reason for claim denial is:

👉 Unregistered property address

If the insured address does not match
the location where the leak occurred,

👉 the claim can be denied.

Always check:

- Policy start date
- Registered property address
- Coverage for rental units

Insurance only works when
everything is properly registered.

| Key 3: Liability vs Property Damage Insurance

This is where most confusion happens.

👉 “I have insurance—why isn’t it covered?”

Because these are two completely different types:

- Liability insurance → covers damage to others
- Property damage insurance → covers your own home

Example:

Leak in your unit → damages downstairs

✔ Downstairs damage → Liability insurance
✔ Your home damage → Property insurance

Important warning:

👉 Pipe repair itself is often NOT covered.

Insurance covers damage—not the cause.

| What Costs Are Covered?

Not all costs are covered by insurance.

👉 There is a clear distinction between covered and non-covered items.

Covered:
- Damage to downstairs unit
- Interior damage in your home
- Temporary accommodation costs

Not covered (in many cases):
- Pipe replacement
- Root cause repair
- Natural wear and tear

Insurance covers damage—not the cause.

Always confirm before starting repairs.

| 4-Step Claim Process

The order of actions determines your compensation.

👉 The most important rule:
File the claim BEFORE repair.

Step 1: Report to insurance first
Step 2: Collect evidence (photos, estimates)
Step 3: Confirm coverage with insurer
Step 4: Choose a proper contractor

Skipping steps can lead to claim denial.

| Top 5 Mistakes

Most losses happen due to simple mistakes.

1) Repair before filing a claim
2) Not checking pipe ownership
3) Wrong or missing address registration
4) Relying only on liability insurance
5) Trusting contractor without insurer approval

Avoid these, and your success rate increases significantly.

| Pro Tips

The difference in compensation comes from actions.

✔ Report immediately
✔ Take photos before repair
✔ Get multiple estimates
✔ Communicate with insurer
✔ Keep all documents

Insurance pays what you claim.
No claim, no payout.

절대 권장하지 않습니다.

👉 반드시 보험사 사고 접수 후 진행해야 합니다.

사전 접수 없이 공사를 진행하면
보상 거절 또는 일부만 인정될 수 있습니다.

아닙니다.

✔ 일배책 → 아랫집 피해 보상
✔ 급배수 누출손해 → 우리 집 피해 보상

👉 하나만 있으면 절반만 보상됩니다.

조건에 따라 다릅니다.

✔ 2020년 4월 이후 가입 여부
✔ 보험에 해당 주택 주소 등록 여부

👉 주소 등록이 안 되어 있으면
보상 거절될 수 있습니다.

대부분의 경우 보상되지 않습니다.

👉 보험은 “손해”를 보상하는 구조이며
원인 제거 비용은 제외되는 경우가 많습니다.

아파트 공용 배관이라면
관리사무소 또는 입주자대표회의가 책임을 집니다.

👉 개인이 먼저 수리하지 말고
관리사무소 확인이 우선입니다.