Soil Contamination Insurance

Why take out this insurance?

Soil Contamination Insurance

Why take out this insurance?

With both below- and above-ground fuel-oil tanks, leakage, whilst not highly likely, is always a possibility. If you insure yourself against the consequences of a leak, we will arrange for soil remediation, even if the leak came from one of the tank’s pipes.

What types of fuel-oil tanks are covered?

Cover is only provided for fuel-oil tanks for heating. This includes both above- and below-ground tanks, although an age restriction applies for the latter:

  • 45 years for below-ground tanks outside a water extraction area or a protection zone
  • 35 years for below-ground tanks in a water extraction area or a protection zone

Please note, the total storage capacity at the insured location may not exceed 20 000 litres, irrespective of the number of tanks there. 

What is insured?

  • Location and limitation of the contamination

We will send an assessor who will determine the seriousness of the contamination and take measures to limit the consequences.

They will then inform you of the relevant statutory procedures and help you take care of the formalities.

  • Remediation

We will take on the responsibility of the remediation project and pay for the works on your behalf, and will do so in accordance with the prescribed procedures and remediation directives.

In certain cases, the contamination can spread to neighbouring premises. If this has happened in your case, we will continue the remediation works there.

  • Damage caused by the remediation works

We will return your garden and land to their original condition, along with the gardens and land of any affected third parties. 

What is not insured? Most important exclusions:

  • Historical contamination
  • Contamination occurring within the first 30 days of the commencement date of the insurance if it is caused by corrosion of the below-ground tank
  • Contamination caused by substances other than fuel oil
  • The decrease in value or the loss of use of your remediated soil

Things you also need to know

  • This is a form of property damage insurance
  • This product is governed by the laws of Belgium.
  • The insurance cover is valid for a term of one year and is tacitly renewed unless you cancel it no later than three months before the main renewal date.
    For policies taken out or tacitly renewed on or after 1 October 2024, you have up to two months before the main renewal date to cancel them. As a consumer, you can cancel your insurance contract at any time starting from the second insurance year, with effect after two months have elapsed from the day after the registered letter was submitted for delivery, the writ was served or the date of the acknowledgement of receipt.

  • Your intermediary is your first point of contact for any complaints you may have. If no agreement can be reached, you can contact KBC Brussels Complaints Management by post at Brusselsesteenweg 100, 3000 Leuven, complaints@kbc.be, tel. 016 43 25 94. If no satisfactory solution can be reached, you can contact the Insurance Ombudsman at de Meeûssquare 35, 1000 Brussels, or info@ombudsman-insurance.be, which serves the whole industry. Alternatively, visit www.ombudsman-insurance.be
  • However, you always retain the right to initiate legal proceedings.

Contact your KBC Brussels intermediary to request a quotation for this insurance

The KBC Business Property Insurance is a product of KBC Insurance NV – Professor Roger Van Overstraetenplein 2 – 3000 Leuven – Belgium
VAT BE 0403.552.563 – RLP Leuven – IBAN BE43 7300 0420 0601 – BIC KREDBEBB
Company authorised for all classes of insurance under code 0014 (Royal Decree of 4 July 1979; Belgian Official Gazette, 14 July 1979) by the National Bank of Belgium, De Berlaimontlaan 14, 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
Member of the KBC group

For a concise description of the cover, the most important exclusions and other useful information, please refer to the product fact sheet.

Make an appointment at KBC Brussels

Make an appointment with your agent or branch
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Related products