Leak under kitchen floor - insurance claim

chivers1977

We discovered a leak under our kitchen floor having posted a few days ago about hearing a "water noise" in the kitchen. There is water 10mm deep under the kitchen cupboards. Homeserve are going to have to dig a trench through the whole kitchen to replace a pipe that is buried under the tiles and concrete floor. They have to take out the kitchen cupboards and worktops to get to the floor. They believe that this is where the leak is.

So far 2 of the base units will require replacing as they have soaked up water 10cm up the chipboard carcass. Not sure about the other side of the kitchen whether there will be any damage to the other base units as the plinth hasn't been removed yet. What will happen with the wall units as they have not had any damage but it is an old kitchen so I would not be able to find the same ones? I have checked my Barclays policy and it says that it would not replace items that are part of a set - is a fitted kitchen a set?

Not sure whether any of the wall tiles will be damaged when the units are taken out....

The floor will need replacing but we have a downstairs bathroom off our kitchen with a tiny lobby in between. The same tiles run right through and again they are old. What would happen with the rest of the floor?

My insurer has instructed Asprea who I understand I should avoid. If I want to get a financial settlement, would I have to get the insurer to instruct a proper surveyor to agree what needs to be replaced rather than let Asprea in?

Thanks

chivers1977

Me again!

Just checked the other base units on the other side of the kitchen. the carcasses have also soaked up the water.

Therefore all base units and plinths will require replacing but obviously no damage to wall units. Would they only replace the carcasses of the base units or would they expect me to put the old doors back on the new carcasses.

Even more concerning we now have puddles on the downstairs bathroom floor too!

chivers1977

BUMP - any advice please!

benjaminM

Hey Chivers I'll try and help. What an insurance company will pay out all depends on the company. That said, the majority would try and put you back to the position you were in before the incident. So in your case, if they pay the claim, I would think they would replace all the kitchen cupboards because you did not have a mix and match kitchen before the incident. When it comes to paying claims all insurers are different, depending on the amount of the estimate they may just send you a cheque, however some insurers have arrangements with kitchen supplier and they would just replace it to the nearest model available. I have no experience with Barclays so I cant comment on how they would handle the claim

chivers1977

thanks for coming back to me, nice to know that some insureres will replace the whole lot,,,might help me in the battle that i expect to have

sugared_honey

benjaminM wrote: »

Hey Chivers I'll try and help. What an insurance company will pay out all depends on the company. That said, the majority would try and put you back to the position you were in before the incident. So in your case, if they pay the claim, I would think they would replace all the kitchen cupboards because you did not have a mix and match kitchen before the incident. When it comes to paying claims all insurers are different, depending on the amount of the estimate they may just send you a cheque, however some insurers have arrangements with kitchen supplier and they would just replace it to the nearest model available. I have no experience with Barclays so I cant comment on how they would handle the claim

I'm sorry Chivers but this isn't how I hear it normally works, with a matching items clause in your policy, from what I understand, the best you'll get is 50% towards replacing the undamaged items, unless the company is VERY generous, like Benjamin, I have little experience with Barclays though so they may be one of the good ones?

chivers1977

Thanks for your reply.

They have Aviva/ NU as underwriters so not sure that they are one of the better ones from what I have read! I guess 50% is better than nothing but I don't really have much money with my OH being made redunandant in April and then getting stuck away due to ash!! The whole thing is looking worse and worse anyway as have now found that the plaster is wet......