What Is Trace and Access Cover?

Reviewed by the DCI Leak Detection team · Last updated June 2026

If a leak has soaked into your floor or ceiling with no obvious source, the cost of tracking the leak down can run into thousands before a single repair is made. Trace and access cover exists for exactly that gap. It is widely misunderstood, though. Most homeowners assume it pays for everything, then get caught out by what it leaves on the table. Here is what it covers, what it doesn't, how much you can claim, and how to make the process go smoothly.

What is trace and access cover?

Trace and access cover is a feature of buildings insurance that pays the cost of removing and replacing parts of your home to locate the source of a water leak. "Trace" is the detective work of finding where the water is escaping. "Access" is the disruption needed to reach it, such as lifting floorboards, digging up a section of drive or opening a wall, plus the cost of putting it all back afterwards.

It is closely tied to escape of water, a leak from something inside your home, like a burst pipe, a failed appliance hose or a leaking heating circuit. The Association of British Insurers has put industry payouts for escape-of-water claims at around £1.8 million a day, which tells you how common and costly these leaks are.

What trace and access cover pays for, and what it doesn't

This is where most claims go sideways. Trace and access is narrower than people expect: it covers the finding and the access damage, but the repair of the pipe itself usually sits outside it. Here's the split.

A worked example. A slow leak under a kitchen floor pushes up your water bill. A specialist traces it to a pinhole in a buried pipe and lifts two square metres of tiling to reach it. Trace and access pays to find the leak and to lift and re-lay the floor. The repair of the pipe is usually down to you or claimed separately, and the water damage to your units and skirting is dealt with under the main escape-of-water part of the claim (our guide explains whether a water leak is covered by insurance). Three different buckets, and knowing which is which is what stops a claim stalling.

If your first clue was the bill rather than a visible leak, our guide on a high water bill with no visible leak walks through the early signs.

How much does trace and access cover pay? Typical limits

Cover is capped per claim, and the figure varies by insurer and policy tier. As a guide to what UK insurers commonly offer:

• £5,000 per claim is the most common limit. Aviva's Signature cover and Admiral's standard buildings tiers both sit here, for example.
• Up to £10,000 on higher tiers (Admiral's Platinum buildings cover, for instance).
• Your policy excess still applies to the wider escape-of-water claim, so you'll usually pay that first.

Always check your own policy schedule for the exact figure. These limits are illustrative of the market, not a promise about your cover. For a typical domestic leak, a £5,000 limit comfortably covers professional detection and the access work; the cap tends to matter most on bigger jobs involving solid floors, driveways or multiple rooms.

Is trace and access cover included as standard?

Not always. Some buildings policies include it as standard; others offer it as an optional add-on, and contents-only policies typically don't include it at all. As the ABI notes, trace and access cover "isn't always offered as standard," so it's worth checking your schedule before you need it. If you're buying or renewing, it's an inexpensive feature that can save you thousands on a single hidden leak, so it's well worth confirming it's there.

Can you use your own leak detection specialist?

Often, yes, but check with your insurer first. Some insurers prefer to send their own approved contractor, partly so they know the work will be covered. Others are happy for you to appoint your own trace and access specialist, particularly when you need someone out quickly to stop the damage spreading.

The thing that makes either route work is a proper, insurer-ready trace and access report: a clear record of how the leak was found, the methods used (thermal imaging, acoustic detection, tracer gas), and the access required, with photographs. That documentation is what an insurer needs to settle the claim. A quick call to your insurer before work starts, plus the right report, is usually all it takes to keep your claim clean, whoever does the detection.

How to make a trace and access claim

1. Stop the damage. Turn off the water at the stopcock if the leak is active, and limit further harm where you safely can.
2. Check your policy. Confirm you have trace and access cover and note the limit and excess.
3. Call your insurer before work begins. Tell them you have a suspected hidden leak, ask whether you can use your own specialist, and get any reference number.
4. Get a professional trace and access report. A specialist locates the leak with non-invasive equipment and documents everything the insurer needs.
5. Submit the claim with the report and photos. Keep copies of every invoice and image.
6. Arrange the repair and reinstatement. Once the leak is found, the pipe is repaired and the access damage made good.

If your insurer turns the claim down, do not give up. Our guide on what to do if a trace and access claim is refused walks through the reasons and how to challenge the decision.

Trace and access in Cornwall & Devon

Across Cornwall and Devon we produce insurer-ready trace and access reports every week, using non-invasive water leak detection so we find the leak with the least possible disruption. If your water supplier has flagged a problem, our guide on what to do when South West Water says you have a leak explains your responsibilities and next steps. Whether your insurer sends us or you appoint us directly, you get the same thing: the leak found fast, with the documentation your claim needs.

Frequently asked questions