HomeServe, one of the UK’s leading home assistance providers, is further strengthening its partnership with Aviva, the UK’s largest general insurer, with the announcement that Aviva is the first insurer to offer LeakBot - a smart connected water leak detector, developed by HomeServe Labs - to its customers.
- HomeServe recently launched LeakBot, an innovation created by HomeServe Labs. LeakBot is a smart connected device designed to detect water leaks anywhere on the mains water supply in the home to help protect against escape of water damage
- HomeServe and Aviva’s partnership grows with Aviva now offering LeakBot devices to selected Customers
- HomeServe, one of the UK’s leading home assistance providers, and Aviva, the UK’s largest general insurer signed a five-year agreement in October 2015 for Aviva to underwrite HomeServe’s products
- The partnership also aims to focus on making Customers’ lives easier through connected home innovation
Water leaks are the second biggest driver of home insurance claims, making it a key issue for both customers and the insurance industry.
A leak in the home can cause huge disruption and heartache for householders. Damage can be exacerbated because a leak often happens out of sight, with water escaping slowly over a prolonged period, which means people frequently become aware of the issue after considerable harm has been done, taking weeks of upheaval to put right.
LeakBot is set to offer a solution to this issue, through its ability to detect leaks anywhere on the mains water supply in a home, spotting them before they have the chance to become big problems.
The award-winning LeakBot device uses break-through Thermi-Q technology and can be installed easily by clipping the LeakBot to a pipe near the stopcock. It monitors the mains water supply 24/7 to detect and alert Customers via their smartphones to issues such as dripping taps, hidden leaks on pipes and taps being left running.
Customers can then choose to access on-demand repair assistance from HomeServe.
Aviva has already tested a small number of devices, and the success of that initial trial has led the insurer to offer LeakBot to selected Aviva Customers.
Martin Bennett, CEO, HomeServe Membership, said; “HomeServe and Aviva are organisations who are both focused on making things easier for Customers. From the beginning of our partnership, we have been excited about what we will offer Customers in terms of market leading connected home innovation, and LeakBot, is a significant step forward on that journey.
“We know that water damage is a major issue for the insurance industry and their Customers, and LeakBot is a real game changer. To have a device like LeakBot that is easy to use and install, and can detect leaks to help avoid considerable damage to the home, is a real benefit for homeowners and insurers.
“We are looking forward to working with Aviva and many other insurers in the future to offer LeakBot in homes all over the UK.”
Stephen Pond, Managing Director, Prevention and Services for Aviva said: “Many people will have encountered a leak in their homes at some point, so it’s no surprise that repairing damage caused by leaks accounts for more than one in five of Aviva’s home insurance claims. Unfortunately, many leaks happen behind the scenes, which mean they can sometimes go undetected for weeks, months or even years, meaning water damage can be extremely extensive, destructive and disruptive to put right. So, catching leaks early and fixing them before much damage is done is definitely the way to go.
“We have been working with HomeServe on LeakBot for well over a year and have already carried out trials which told us that many homes have issues with their plumbing without the householder knowing – most of them are small problems for now but problems which, if left, could become big ones. We’re always exploring ways to prevent avoidable incidents from happening and to deal with them quickly when they do, so LeakBot together with HomeServe is a great example of how we’re looking to achieve this.”
LeakBot was designed and created by HomeServe Labs, in Walsall, Midlands, and went on general sale earlier this year at £149.
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About HomeServe: We are one of the UK’s leading home assistance providers. For more than 20 years we have made our Customers’ lives easier by delivering a range of services, including plumbing, drainage, electrics, heating and much more, though our own nationwide network of HomeServe approved engineers.
Over two million people in the UK have already placed their trust in us and turn to us when it comes to fixing, maintaining and looking after their home.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @HomeServeUK Read our online lifestyle magazine: ketchup.homeserve.com
Contact: For HomeServe media enquiries contact Stella Pitt, HomeServe’s Senior External Communications Manager, on 01922 651508 . Alternatively email press@homeserve.com
For Aviva media enquiries contact Sarah Poulter, Aviva Senior Media Relations Manager on 07800 691569 / sarah.poulter@aviva.com
About Aviva:
Aviva provides life insurance, general insurance, health insurance and asset management to 33 million customers, across 16 markets worldwide
- In the UK we are the leading insurer serving one in every four households and have strong businesses in selected markets in Europe, Asia and Canada. Our shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange and we are a member of the FTSE100 index.
- Aviva’s asset management business, Aviva Investors, provides asset management services to both Aviva and external clients, and currently manages over £289 billion in assets.
- Aviva helps people save for the future and manage the risks of everyday life; we paid out £30.7 billion in benefits and claims in 2015.
- By serving our customers well, we are building a business which is strong and sustainable, which our people are proud to work for, and which makes a positive contribution to society.
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About HomeServe Labs
HomeServe Labs is a smart home technology developer that designs products and services which make consumers’ lives easier. HomeServe Labs was born out of HomeServe, one of the UK’s leading home assistance provider, which has been delivering maintenance and repair services to over two million Customers across the UK for over 20 years.
HomeServe Labs combines HomeServe’s experience with its entrepreneurial and highly creative team to build original solutions for the connected home. The first product to come to market created by HomeServe Labs is LeakBot which uses intelligent technology to detect water leaks in the home from just one smart device, without the need for professional installation. LeakBot alerts consumers of small leaks before they become big problems, with the aim of helping to protect homes from the impact of water damage.
HomeServe Labs is an exciting new British business founded in 2013 with offices in both London and Walsall. Key features of the LeakBot include:
- Quick and easy set up: LeakBot monitors your home 24-7 from just one small device which clips onto the mains water supply - it doesn’t require professional installation or multiple sensors around the house
- Connected: LeakBot connects to your smartphone and alerts you if there is a leak. It runs off the SIGFOX Internet of Things network meaning that it doesn’t need to be connected to WiFi or mobile data, and its battery life lasts up to five years
- On-demand support: If LeakBot does detect a leak in your home, you will be able to find out more about the severity of the leak from the LeakBot app alongside support on how to handle the problem. As LeakBot was developed from HomeServe Labs, a company which was born out of home assistance provider HomeServe, you will have access to a network of qualified engineers who can be called out to fix the problem if required