School leaks: insurance and the RPA

Identify the arrangement before claiming

Check the school’s certificate or policy, membership period and claim contact. RPA provisions discussed here concern the DfE arrangement in England; commercial policies and different school membership rules must be checked separately. A contractor’s report does not itself confirm insurance cover.

Read the RPA provision in context

In the September 2026 academy rules, section 1 extension 9 concerns necessary and reasonable trace-and-access costs following damage from escaping water or fuel oil. The £50,000 limit applies per loss and in aggregate during the membership year for the academy. It is not an automatic allowance for routine leak surveys.

Extension 8 addresses additional metered-water charges resulting from damage and excludes unoccupied buildings. The rules define unoccupied buildings, including qualifications for school holidays. Check the complete definition and any applicable exclusions rather than deciding from a closure date alone.

Notify the incident and preserve evidence

The rules include exclusions for gradual deterioration and wear and tear, with qualifications for some subsequent damage. They do not support a blanket claim that every slow leak is excluded. Coverage needs assessment against the actual cause and damage.

Follow the current notification requirements promptly, take reasonable action to limit damage and ask about consent before non-emergency work. Keep dated observations, photographs, readings, invoices and the investigation report. Do not delay making an unsafe situation safe while waiting to collect evidence.