# What does trace and access cover? | Notts Leak Detection > Trace and access cover pays to find a hidden leak and get to it, including making good the damage done in the search. It rarely pays for the pipe repair itself. URL: https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/guide/trace-and-access-cover/ 1. [Home](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/) 2. [Trace and Access](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/trace-and-access/) 3. What does trace and access cover? Learn # What does trace and access cover? [Notts Leak Detection](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/) explains what trace and access insurance usually pays for, what it doesn't, and how to make a claim go smoothly. Published 28 September 2026 · Updated 28 September 2026 · By Notts Leak Detection **Short answer:** Trace and access cover pays to find a hidden leak and get to it: tracing it, opening up the floor, wall or ground, and making good the damage done in the search. It usually does not pay to repair the leaking pipe itself. Many buildings insurance policies include it, often with a limit per claim. Trace and access cover is the part of a buildings insurance policy that pays to find a hidden leak. Finding a leak under a floor, behind a wall or under a drive can cost more than fixing it, which is why the cover exists. ## What it usually pays for According to [MoneySuperMarket’s guide](https://www.moneysupermarket.com/home-insurance/trace-and-access/), trace and access cover typically pays for: - the work needed to locate a hidden leak; - getting to it: lifting floors, opening walls, digging down to a buried pipe; - making good the damage caused during the search. It is included as standard in many buildings policies, often with a limit per claim. ## What it usually doesn’t pay for - The repair to the pipe itself. Fixing the leaking joint or replacing the pipe is usually your cost. - Water getting in from outside. Trace and access is tied to escape of water, meaning leaks from a closed system such as pipes and appliances. It doesn’t cover water coming through a roof, window or door. - Obvious leaks. If the source is plain to see, like a burst pipe in the loft, there is nothing to trace. Home emergency cover may apply instead. - The water company’s pipes. Leaks on the main, the communication pipe or the meter are the water company’s to fix, free. Got a claim reference? Book the trace and access visit and the report goes straight to your insurer. 0115 839 0791 (+441158390791) ## Underground pipes Many policies include underground supply pipes on your property, which matters because these are the leaks that cost most to find. Some policies cap the amount, or only cover pipes serving the house. Read the wording before booking. On typical local prices, trace and access in Nottingham is published [from £495](https://www.leakdetectionnottingham.co.uk/trace-and-access/). ## Making the claim go smoothly 1. Ring the insurer first. Most want the claim logged before work starts, and some send their own contractor. 2. Photograph everything before anything is moved or opened up. 3. Book with the claim reference so the report goes to the right place. 4. Keep the report, which should give the leak position, cause, method and photos, plus the invoice. 5. Claim the water separately. Once the leak is fixed, Severn Trent offers a one-off leakage allowance once the leak is repaired, covering up to 12 months or two bills based on actual meter readings. For the damage the water itself caused, see [escape of water vs trace and access](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/guide/escape-of-water-vs-trace-and-access/). For the service, see [trace and access](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/trace-and-access/). ## Bottom line Trace and access pays to find the leak and put right the damage done getting to it, not to fix the pipe. Check your policy limit and excess, log the claim first, and make sure the report gives the insurer what it needs. Call 0115 839 0791 (+441158390791), 9am–7pm, 7 days. ## Questions people also ask ### Does trace and access cover underground pipes? Often, yes. Many policies include underground supply pipes on your property, but some cap the amount or exclude pipes outside the house. Check the wording. ### Does it cover rain coming in through the roof? No. Trace and access is linked to escape of water, meaning water leaking from pipes, tanks and appliances. Water getting in from outside, through a roof, window or door, is treated differently. ### What if the leak turns out to be on the water company's side? Then it is theirs to fix, free, and not an insurance matter. Report it on 0800 783 4444 (+448007834444). Related service [Trace and Access](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/trace-and-access/) Find the leak, open up only what is needed and document it for your insurer's trace and access claim. [View service](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/trace-and-access/) Talk it through Lines open Monday–Sunday, 9am–7pm. 0115 839 0791 (+441158390791) ## More guides - [Decision Guide Escape of water vs trace and access: what is the difference?](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/guide/escape-of-water-vs-trace-and-access/) - [Decision Guide How much does leak detection cost in Nottingham?](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/guide/leak-detection-cost/) - [Learn Who is responsible for the water supply pipe?](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/guide/who-is-responsible-for-water-supply-pipe/) - [Learn Can a water leak cause subsidence?](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/guide/can-a-water-leak-cause-subsidence/)