Claim after Fire....what to do if kitchen is discontinued?

Yellowbug

Hi everyone

Im looking for a bit of advice please

We had a fire in our kitchen a couple of weeks ago, rang the insurance company to make a claim, they sent the loss adjuster and some cleaners round and started sorting things out for us.
The fire was put out pretty quickly so not too much stuff is destroyed.

The bulk of the damage is obviously in the kitchen (although there was smoke damage in a number of other rooms, that now all need painting), all the wall units are damaged and need replacing, as does the work top, hob, and extractor.

We were told to try and get the units, which I have done but I am told it was discontinued and although they are looking for me its unlikely they will find the units I need.
I rang the loss adjuster about it, to see what he suggested I do, and I was told they will only pay for those units, so we will have to try and find something to match.......and that is where I have a problem, I have looked but cant see anything that goes with it really, but it got me thinking that surely I shouldnt have to have a miss matched kitchen?

So my question to you knowledgable lot is, can they make us have a mismatched kitchen? or in this situation with the item being discontinued do they have to replace the whole thing? (if it makes any difference its a small kitchen and half the units are damaged)

If that is the case, how should I approach it with the loss adjuster? Im worried because obviously its him that decides what we do and dont get so I dont want to annoy him or anything?

lisyloo

The ombudsman has rules on these cases before and the result is that the insurer has to pay 50% of the costs of any matching undamaged items.
You have to pay the rest.

If you do a search you might find links to previous ombudsman rulings.
If you tell this to your insurer then they should see sense and do what the ombudsman has rules in the past.

But I'm afraid you won't get a brand new matching kitchen for free.

Yellowbug

thanks lisyloo
that makes sense, and is at least more realistic than being forced into a mis matched ktichen

ill go and have a look at what I can find for the rulings

dacouch

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/ombudsman-news/75/75-household-insurance.html