Simple home maintenance checks that can save you thousands

Owning a home in South Africa comes with ongoing wear and tear that can affect its overall value and safety over time. While not every issue can be prevented, regular care and maintenance play a crucial role in avoiding and reducing damage.

Many expensive home repairs start with small problems that were easy to fix — but were left for too long. Keeping your home well-maintained doesn't just protect its value. It also helps make sure your home insurance will honour your claim within the T&Cs of your policy when you need it most.

South African Weather Can Be Harsh

South Africa's weather is one of the biggest reasons homes get damaged. Storms, flooding, hail, fires, and strong winds lead to thousands of home insurance claims every year. The South African Insurance Association (SAIA) has urged the importance of climate resilience and insurance collaboration — the two go hand in hand when it comes to combatting potential claims disasters. Underinsurance remains a real risk, with one in three homes in South Africa being underinsured.

The roof is usually the first part of a home to take the strain. Damage typically starts with:

• Broken tiles
• Corrugated roofs with rusted screws
• Blocked gutters

Each of these lets rainfall in, which then causes damage to ceilings, walls, and even the foundation of your house if it's not dealt with quickly. What makes water damage so expensive is that it often spreads before it's noticed.

Regular roof and gutter checks year-round can prevent this kind of damage. Fixing small issues early is significantly cheaper than dealing with major repairs after a storm — and your building insurance is less likely to pay out for damage that could have been prevented with routine upkeep.

Hidden Problems Can Cause the Biggest Losses

Some of the most serious home damage happens out of sight. Geysers, pipes, and electrical systems work hard every day, and can fail without warning — especially in older homes, during colder months, or after power interruptions.

Burst geysers and leaking pipes are among the most common causes of household damage in South Africa. These problems can affect ceilings, walls, and floors, leading to high repair costs and major disruption. Approximately 10,000 geysers burst every month, and the resulting repairs are costly.

Electrical systems also need attention. Power surges caused by lightning or an unstable supply can damage appliances and, in some cases, increase the risk of fire if wiring isn't in good condition. To reduce these risks:

• Get regular inspections of water pipes and geysers
• Have your electrical system checked by registered professionals
• Keep a signed certificate of compliance on file

Maintenance also matters when it's time to claim. The National Financial Ombud Scheme noted that gradual deterioration, lack of maintenance, or wear and tear was the primary reason for rejected homeowners insurance claims — a 7% increase in such complaints since 2023.

"Home insurance is there to help when something sudden and unexpected happens, not when damage builds up over time. Regular maintenance helps homeowners avoid major problems and ensures their insurance cover works as it should." — John Wessels, Executive: Product and Analytics, BetterSure Financial Consultants

Regular Maintenance Is an Investment, Not a Cost

Home and building insurance generally covers the permanent structures and fixtures of your property against unexpected events. That typically includes:

• The main building
• Outbuildings and garages
• Built-in cupboards
• Fixed security systems
• Boundary walls

What's usually not covered:

• Pre-existing damage
• Normal wear and tear
• Lack of maintenance
• Poor workmanship
• Damage caused by pests or domestic animals

Understanding these exclusions helps homeowners avoid surprises when it's time to claim — and ensures your building insurance cover works as intended.

Budgeting for Maintenance

Looking after your home doesn't have to be overwhelming or expensive. Property experts often suggest setting aside at least 1% of a home's value each year for maintenance, depending on the age and condition of the home. Planning for these costs makes it easier to deal with repairs before they become emergencies.

What Actually Drives Claims at BetterSure

According to BetterSure's own claims records, the reasons for claims are diverse — but a few categories dominate:

• Storm damage (flooding, hail, lightning) — 34% of claim payouts
• Geyser-related damage — 32% of claim payouts
• Pipes and plumbing — 19% of claim payouts
• Fire — only 0.6% of claims by number, but 4% of total payouts due to the scale of damage per incident

Theft and accidental damage also contribute meaningfully to overall claims. The takeaway? The biggest claim drivers are exactly the categories proactive maintenance helps you avoid.

That's the thinking behind our #HealthyHome Rewards programme — proactive home maintenaince keeps your home in better shape, supports cleaner claims, and protects you from premium increases linked to claims history.

A Well-Maintained Home Is a Better-Protected Home

In the end, a well-maintained home is safer, more comfortable, and better prepared for extreme weather or other external risks. Your home represents around 80% of your family's wealth — so for South African homeowners, regular maintenance is one of the smartest ways to protect both your home and your finances, and help the overall value of your home grow.

Want to make sure your buildings insurance is keeping up with the home you've built?

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