Fire at home caused by insured painting company

fragglepants

Hi there!

Wondering if I tell you what is going on with an insurance claim we have ongoing at the moment someone will be able to advise?

Before I pour out my heart and explain all, perhaps you could let me know whether this is the right forum to ask!

In basic terms a painter using a blow torch set fire to my window frame and inner wall gubbings 3 weeks ago. Until Sunday we had been put up in a hotel, but now are home. For two nights we have had to sleep on a blow up bed, and my parents have now sent a bed over to me to borrow (had to hire a man with a van). This is because the beds we have ordered (like for like) will take three weeks to be delivered. We are also without a sofa and have had to resort to buying blow up chairs (like students!) whilst we wait for our sofa to be made - again like for like.

The decorating to the flat has not been finished, the floors have not been laid.

The painters' insurance company will not reply to them. They have agreed to stand the cost of the beds and sofa, and carpet, as well as previous hotel costs. But, have not reimbursed us yet (nearly £2000) for other costs such as food, initial hotel costs, laundry etc.

Questions include - should we really be back home when its still unfinished - shouldn't we be able to walk back into our flat as we left it? (ask this as have heard that this is what has happened for others)

Also, the smell - the place has been professionally cleaned and partially repainted., But the area around the window where the fires was still stinks - any suggsections?

Please help, we are stressed out, emotional, tired and frustrated!

Thanks everyone - you're :As

M&M

fragglepants

Havign re - read that, I did ramble on a bit!

mattymoo

Is there a loss adjuster dealing with this for the insurer? If so, most of the questions should be put to them.

Weirdlittleman

Why would you expect food costs reimbursed?
Do you not normally eat anyway...

Quentin

Weirdlittleman wrote: »

Why would you expect food costs reimbursed?

The problem arises if you cannot eat at home.

Normally when the home cannot be lived in insurers will pay you a daily allowance (around £20/person/day) as a contribution towards the extra costs in having to eat out.

Weirdlittleman

Quentin wrote: »

The problem arises if you cannot eat at home.

Normally when the home cannot be lived in insurers will pay you a daily allowance (around £20/person/day) as a contribution towards the extra costs in having to eat out.

Fair enough if so but my reading was the OP wants all their food bills - no doubt in expensive restaurants - reimbursed.

OP could you confirm what exactly the fire destroyed?

If its one room I cant but help your trying to make the process a lot more difficult.

Quentin

fragglepants wrote: »

Also, the smell - the place has been professionally cleaned and partially repainted., But the area around the window where the fires was still stinks - any suggsections?

As previously advised by mattymoo, get back to the adjuster over this and your other questions.

It sounds like these smoke/fire damaged areas need replacing.

fragglepants

Wierdlittleman - Of course we aren't taking the p*ss. If you read my explanation we have had to move to a hotel and have returned to a effectively a building site. I found your comments very rude.

Regarding everyone's questions about the loss adjuster - he has simply been ignoring us! Thats why we are asking advice, as at some point he will no doubt try to say that we cannot claim for x,y and z. We want to know where we stand - when he says that he won't pay for something, is he wrong? We've had to buy new clothing as all we left with is what we stood up in, we took some laundry with us and had it cleaned - more expense.

All we want is to be returned to our home as it was before the fire. The fire/smoke has destroyed our home to the extent that flooring has been ripped out, and it has all been repainted. No, it didn't burnt down, and we are grateful for that, neither was anyone hurt (thank God). I know some people are not as fortunate as us. Still this has been traumatic.

fragglepants

Oh, and just to clarify - all soft furnishings such as beds, sofa, curtains had to be thrown away.

Quentin

It sounds like you may need to consider getting your own assessor to fight your corner.

fragglepants

Would you know how to do that?