Home insurance claim...Advice needed

karen230

Hi, advice needed please.

We had a burst pipe on xmas eve (of all the days)....huge amount of damage on the building side eg....walls need taking down,kitchen replacing etc.
Just been told will be at least 6 months
Our insurance company offered us emergency hotel accomodation,which we have 3 children under 6 so wasnt the best solution and on xmas eve.... so staying with parents at the mo.

Nearly 7 weeks on still no further with staying somewhere more permanent.Insurance seem to be totally ignoring the fact that we are nearly going mad...husband is trying to stay out with work as it eases space at my mums but its now driving me mad and so out of pocket as having to go out for meals as so crowded.

So advice really.....has anyone been in a similiar position

can you claim anything , as 7 weeks nearly at parents and will be at least another 3 weeks before we can get a rental place
and not an offer of money to help with parents costs.

sorry for the rant but really getting down now and house hasnt even been started on


karen x

karen230

bumped up to see if anyone could help

Quentin

Talk to the adjuster about alternative accommodation being funded by your insurer.

chrispat

Hi i just had a home and contents claim FOR A BURST PIPE WHEN I WAS AWAY AT XMAS and i found out that the loss ajuster works for the insurance company to try to pay out as little as possible !! if you get your self a LOSS ASSESSOR THEY ARE ON YOUR SIDE AND GET THE RIGHT AMOUNT THAT YOU SHOULD RECEIVE !! IN OTHER WORDS THERE ON YOUR SIDE ALL THEY GET OUT OF IT IS A SMALL AMOUNT OF THE FINAL SUM YOU RECEIVE BUT THEY CAN GET YOU A FULL PAYOUT AND NOT JUST WHAT THE ADJUSTER WANTS TO PAY OUT !!:j:D

naughtyjo

I am in a similar position myself but stayed at home due to having kids no car and looking after my mum. I have no cooking facilities as my cooker etc were ruined in the flooding in my kitchen. My insurance company have agreed to pay us a meal allowance to cover expense of eating take aways every night. They originally paid £25/day up to £500 a month but the evil loss adjuster reduced it to £115 per week. However this helps towards the costs as I dont spend £150 a week on tea normally. You need to check if you have a food allowance that can be paid to eat out etc. I also requested mine be backdated to original date which they did so its worth a call.
Regarding moving out I would ring the insurance and tell them you need a rented house as a matter of urgency. They have letting agents that will find you one. Countrywide is a favourite. Can you find a short tenancy property near you that you can inform the insurers off? I have learnt 6 weeks on they do nothing unless you hound them
Good Luck

fongzie

Likewise we had a burst pipe on 27th December with major damage to the house making it inhabitable. Our alternative accommodation limit on our policy was £6000.

For the first month we stayed with friends and were offered £10 per night per person for the whole period (we were told that was the industry standard).

Once a representative from Crawfords came out, we then pushed for something more long term as there was a lot of restoration work to be done. They referred us to Countrywide (not very fast) and we are now renting somewhere for 6 months -we identified the property but Countrywide will help you find one if needed. The rent and deposit were paid directly to the landlord. Furniture hire was also arranged by Countrywide.

We are insured with Aviva, Crawfords are managing the claim (loss adjusting, surveying), Chemdry doing the drying and contents.

Hope this helps-the firms are innundated with claims so you have to be persistent.

gregd_3

I am a loss adjuster. If it was me dealing with your claim I would make you an offer of between £100 - £150 per week to stay with family.

The £10 per person per day is kind of a standard allowance we work from however apply that formula across a month with the number of people being re-housed in your scenario and it comes out at £1200. This is far too much for insurers to pay. You should not profit from an insurance claim therefore, i would consider that a fair and adequate payment to be making is in the region of £500 per month.