Escape-of-water claims remain a major cost for UK property insurers, prompting greater scrutiny of technologies that can detect leaks, automatically stop water flow and provide evidence of risk reduction. Quensus, a water management technology provider, is highlighting how connected monitoring systems could help insurers and property managers move from reactive detection towards measurable prevention.

According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), insurers pay out around £1.8m every day for escape-of-water claims. For commercial property portfolios, the consequences extend beyond repair costs to business interruption, repeat incidents and expensive reinstatement work. Quensus argues that technologies capable of preventing leaks and providing auditable risk data could help insurers and property owners address these pressures.

Zurich’s commercial loss analysis identifies water damage as a significant contributor to property claims severity, particularly when leaks remain undetected in risers, plant rooms and multi-occupancy buildings.

For underwriters and managing agents, this creates a challenge: establishing whether monitoring and automated shut-off technology can deliver measurable reductions in the frequency and severity of losses across entire property portfolios.

Quensus identifies three shortcomings in traditional water risk management. Many systems rely on alarms and inspections that require human intervention after a leak begins. Property owners may also lack auditable data connecting installed controls with reduced water consumption or improved claims outcomes. Inconsistent specifications across buildings can further complicate risk assessment and underwriting.

The company’s LeakNet platform combines continuous flow monitoring, adaptive thresholds and automated isolation to contain abnormal water usage before it develops into a more significant incident.

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