Hhhmm, just had an interesting suggestion from my landlord, re the replacement of a bathroom sink that is leaking through a crack .

Background: The crack was there when I moved in a couple of years ago. About three weeks ago, I heard a "ping" in the night. Im the morning, I realised that the crack had suddenly widened and grown longer and that water is now seeping through. My landlord said he would replace it, and acknowledged that it had been there when I moved in. (No, I did not fill out any form listing damages when I moved in.)

NOW: I have just seen him again and he asked if I had an insurance policy for covering damage. I do ( it's compulsory, isn't it?) He is now suggesting that he looks at my policy to see if it covers "glass' and said that should cover the cost 100%. He is still acknowledging that the sink was cracked before I moved in.

I don't think I am happy about my policy being used for this. I have no problem with the fact that the crack suddenly opened wider just recently, but the initial damage was done earlier. Won't an insurance company want to know that? (do preexisting problems count as exclusions in the same way they do for health insurances????) I may tell kids lies about santa and the tooth fairy, but I am not prepared to fib to an insurance company.

Also, if the claim is done on my policy, can that affect the rate that I pay in my future premiums?

My feeling is that the landlord should be totally dealing with the costs involved, or should have dealt with any initial issue of the crack with the previous tenant.

I would be very appreciative on any facts that people may be able to share with me, on how this works.

Many thanks.

How about his insurance?

There are experts at every insurance. If you can prove, that the crack's ain't new because of an accident, your Landlord or his insurance have to pay! These experts are very fussy, and they can prove things you wouldn't believe.
My mom had the same problem. We had a crack in our bathroom sink eversince. The landlord promised he'll replace it. Years after it broke, and he claimed it's my moms fault and she (her insurace) have to pay.
She called the insurance and they sent an expert. The Landlord had to assume every costs!

Swisspete: that was my first thought. But then I wondered if he doesn't carry insurance for damage to apartments - certainly this is the first country I have lived in that I have had to pay any insurance on fixtures and fittings myself. ( unless my employers have paid it elsewhere, without me realising). I can see the point of that, in case a tenant breaks something, as opposed to damage through time, earthquake etc.

Glasgow Girl" Thanks for sharing that. I admit that I am now a little worried in case the landlord decides to try the angle of the crack not having been there before at all. I am hoping that the trust I initially felt, when not writing up a list of faults to present to him, will not be unfounded.

My plan now is to go to my insurance company on Monday, to explain the situation to them. That will ensure I have all the facts I need before seeing the landlord. I will post the result... Again, many thanks for your comments. :-)

For the sake of good relations with the owner, why not go along with his idea? Either his insurance pays or your insurance pays. One of you has to pay the first CHF 200 of any claim though, maybe you can ask him about that before you spill the beans with your insurance. Check your policy for the amount of "Selbstbehalt" it's usually about Fr 200,-

Yes, that was my first reaction. ( and I mentioned to him that there is an excess to pay. He replied that there is probably no excess on "glass" replacement. ( I am presuming he meant porcelain, not that he wants me to claim for a nonexistant broken window)

But then I began to wonder if there would be longterm consequences for me: eg: losing a no claim discount, or having premiums raised.

But, I also have no intention of fibbing to the insurance company , if there is any question as to when the crack first appeared. I have no intention of any long term consequence that may include me going to court for attempting to defaud an insurance company. That is why I want to be very sure of the facts before I see the landlord again.