Buildings Insurance

shnee

Hi,

I rent out a flat that had a dishwasher fire in it. All was going along really well loss adjuster has been really practical and sensible throughout. He agreed the kitchen needed to be replaced until the point the cleaning firm have suggested they can clean the hanging cupboards as although they have smoke "damage" on them they feel these can be made good. As the floor cabinets are in cinders everyone still agrees they need replacing.

I am now stuck in the situation that I will get half the kitchen replaced and I have to accept the other half will not match. Which obviously is not desirable.

Is there normally something that can be done to get things to match ? Would you expect the insurers to cover the costs to replace the items so that the whole kitchen matches ?

Any thoughts help would be greatly appreciated,

Thanks

Shnee

Faith177

Most companies will only replace the items destroyed or damaged beyond repair.

For example I broke my bathroom sink so now I have a white sink & grey bath and toilet.

You could ask if you could pay the extra to have the whole kitchen done? They might be willing to consider this.

Other than that they don't have to replace anything that can be repaired

InsideInsurance

Budget insurers do not including Matching Pairs/ Sets cover and so they will only actually replace the parts that are damaged/ lost

That said, despite the clause being there the FOS has previously ruled that they must contribute 50% to the replacement on the other part if a matching replacement cannot be found. See http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/ombudsman-news/75/75-household-insurance.html#cs7

shnee

Ah thanks for the info. I'm happy to pay my share what I really want to do is keep things moving forward and thanks to the cleaner they have created a hold up. Hopefully I will be able to get the cleaner to state they can't fully restore it and it needs replacing.

phill99

I run a maintenance company and do a lot of work for insurance companies.

We had a job at the start of the year where a customers kitchen had been flooded but only half the units were damaged. The insurers would only replace the damaged units. We just agreed a price with the customer to replace the remaining units while we were on site.

You just need to find a contractor that will give you a favourable price on the additional works involved.