Insurance Claims

DWC prides itself 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 elsewhere in this web site, however generally these causes would NOT give rise to a valid insurance claim.

A building insurance policy will define all insurable events which would be considered as valid causes to pursue a valid claim. Such insurable events covered may include water leaks from a fixed apparatus, storm & flood damage, subsidence 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 the effects of damp can be shown to be as a result of a burst pipe or similar occurrence, DWC’s 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. If a leak can be found the leak should be stopped and repaired at your own cost. If no internal water leak can be identified, 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.

DWC will endeavour to validate a claim on your behalf, if required, 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 DWC will produce a report and a detailed estimate to the insurance company or loss adjustors if they have been appointed by the insurance company. DWC’s 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 insurance claims management service would encompass negotiating with insurers and loss adjustors with a view to agreeing the extent and specification of the re-instatement works.

CASE STUDY for your information

WATER LEAK DAMAGE CASE STUDY

A family home saved from destruction by a DWC CSRT qualified surveyor

It was just a normal surveying day for the Company's surveyor. The enquiry from the property owners Michael & Jane Hindle indicated that there was a fungus developing in their kitchen and were recommended by the PCA (Property Care Association) to contact a member company to carry diagnose the problem. The owners were at their wits end because they would normally baby sit their grandchildren but for the spread of the fungi infestation!!

Our clients were made aware that our survey would be visual and not necessarily intrusive so when our surveyor arrived at the property in South East London he was able to immediately diagnose the the fruiting bodies of the dry rot Serpula lacrymans but the infestation appeared to be affecting only the skirtings whilst spreading out onto the tiled floor. Little did we know at this stage that the tiled floor camouflaged a suspended timber floor which was directly in the 'firing line' of the dry rot fungi which eats the lignum and other nutrients contained in softwood timbers!

The surveyor suggested that they should phone their insurance company and put them on notice that there may be a water leak which would result in a valid insurance claim. However the brokers involved were adamant that dry rot was NOT an insurable event leaving the property owners desolate at the thought that there home was becoming uninhabitable.

DWC brought their insurance claims service into play. A Mandate was obtained from the clients providing DWC with the authority to discuss the damage with the brokers and the building insurers. Trace & Repair cover was established with the client's insurers and DWC's plumber was instructed to expose the areas which were shown by the surveyor to be damp. Fortunately the plumber was able to establish six pin hole leaks in different parts of the water pipe and immediately repaired the water leaks by replacing all the lead pipe-work. The building insurers accepted that there was a valid insurance claim and appointed loss adjustors to manage the costs. DWC proposed a detailed repair programme acceptable to the loss adjustors and proceeded with the work.

Once exposure works had been carried out the accompanying photographs tell their own story!! Most people are unaware of the virulent nature of dry rot which can not only generate its own moisture once established but can on its own demolish a property!!

Needless to say the experienced team at DWC involving our contracts manager and our trained technicians went to work and now the clients have their home back and their grandchildren to stay once again!! Michael & Jane Hindle said :

"Jane and I are grateful for having selected DWC, and their excellent team of people, who helped us through the stress and trauma with our insurers Axa and their loss adjustors Crawfords and in managing the works so successfully"

Author: Malcolm H Thornton CSRT, UK Property Repair Group, www.DWCUK.Com

Dry Rot fruiting body caused as a result of a water leak

The source and cause of the water leak

The Kitchen area affected by the water leak

The finished job The result of DWCs insurance claim service

 

 

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