Escape-of-water damage remains a significant cost for UK property insurers, but connected building technology is changing how the industry approaches the risk. Rather than relying solely on insurance to absorb losses after a leak, insurers and property owners are increasingly exploring ways to identify problems earlier and limit damage before it develops into a claim.
Quensus’ analysis highlights 26,845 escape-of-water claims recorded by Aviva between 2023 and 2025, with an average cost of £11,273 per claim. The figures illustrate why prevention is becoming a more important part of the property insurance conversation, particularly as insurers, landlords and facilities teams look for ways to reduce both the frequency and severity of water-related losses.
Traditionally, property insurance has focused on assessing exposure, pricing risk and responding once an incident occurs. Connected building technology introduces the possibility of a more proactive model. Sensors can monitor water flow and consumption continuously, identify unusual patterns and, in some systems, automatically shut off the supply when a potential leak is detected.
Quensus has developed its LeakNet platform around this approach. The IoT-enabled system continuously monitors water flow and uses AI to identify potential leaks before automatically isolating the water supply. The company is also working with Aviva on proactive water risk mitigation, bringing connected monitoring into the insurer’s approach to preventing property damage.
The value of connected monitoring is not limited to identifying a leak. The data generated by these systems can provide insurers and property owners with a clearer picture of how a building’s water risk is being managed.
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