Insurance

At DWC and Regent Homeguard we pride ourselves in assisting our clients in managing insurance claims on their behalf.

When an enquiry is received to resolve a damp problem our qualified surveyors are appointed to not only report on the manifestation of damp and the specification to eradicate the damp but to also seek the cause.

The cause may usually be attributable to a breakdown of the existing damp proof course, bridging of the damp proof course by high ground or even the precipitation of internal condensation moisture caused by living habits. All these possibilities are dealt with within this web site, however without being too categoric, generally these causes would not give rise to a valid insurance claim.

A building insurance policy will define all insurable events which will be entertained by the insurance company as a valid claim.

Water leaks from a fixed apparatus is one such event. Storm & flood damage and damage caused by earthquakes which seem not to be so rare these days especially in the Folkestone area where an earthquake in September 2007 caused much damage.

Where rising damp can be shown to be as a result of a burst pipe or similar our insurance claims service can be engaged to manage the claim for you. First we would recommend that you engage a plumber to check the water pressure within the property to ascertain whether there is a leak from central heating pipes and then to repair the leak. The next step may be to instruct the local water board to survey for water pressure problems in connection with possible leakage of water from their pipe-work.

The trauma of excavating holes and trenches in your home to find a water leak can be avoided depending on the circumstances by employing specialist infra red technology. Our resident surveyors team at Head Office will be pleased to provide a quotation if required.

It is important to validate a claim by providing the insurance company with evidence that the cause of the ‘insurable event’ has been rectified. For instance in the case of a water leak a plumbers detailed invoice duly dated and receipted will usually suffice.

Once the claim is validated we will produce a report and a detailed estimate to the insurance company or loss adjustors if they have been appointed by the insurance company. Our report will confirm the cause of the damage and provide the insurance company with details of the costs necessary to re-instate the damaged parts. Our service would encompass negotiating with insurers and loss adjustors with a view to agreeing the extent and specification of the re-instatement works. Our insurance claim management service would normally carry a fee of £225 plus VAT which would be accompanied by a signed Letter of Authority.