Subsidence Issues

Chasingmytail_mel

Help!

Long story short -

I logged a subsidence claim 2 years ago after my single story side building extension had a crack appear down the middle of the wall. Since then AXA have taken their sweet time processing it (they rejected it at first and I argued they reopen it) and I've had a catalogue of issues largely down to the mis management of the claim by AXA and their claims management company Crawford's. Normal bore hole samples taken and camera investigations done. The cause was found to be a leaking down pipe and was repaired 1 year ago.

The repairs to the side building should have been completed by now but several complaints later I was no further forward and I've had to go to the financial Ombudsman for assistance last year. Fast forward to now, AXA are now rushing the repair through (presumably because the ombudsman is on their back), and want to proceed with a knock down and rebuild of the side building from the ground up but the contracting surveyor and an independent structural engineer have both stated that they feel the foundations require relaying along with the rebuild because they have shifted and the current building is leaning because of this.

I have forwarded the report to AXA and they have come back saying that the reinstatement of the foundations are not required for consideration under AXA liability.

Can anyone advise me any further please. I don't want to proceed with building on sunken foundations as they new building will not be stable.

To add to this, I cant currently live there because the roof of the building to be knocked down dropped onto the boiler gas pipe and rendered it dangerous, so i've had not hot water or central heating for 8 months. I moved out (because AXA told me it was uninhabitable) but after 5 months of stop/start payments AXA have also stopped paying for my alterative accommodation as well. So im really at a loss as to where to turn next.

TIA

Annemos

Oh Lordie. I have also been through a nightmare claim like this. And I also had to argue about whether the removal of just one Tree was enough. 

One of the things I had to bring to their attention, is that it is required that the repairs should be Lasting and Effective. 


https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/decisions-case-studies/case-studies/insurer-reject-betterment-expert-opinion-needed

https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/businesses/complaints-deal/insurance/home-buildings-insurance/settling-home-insurance-claims

(In that last one...open up the section on "Repairing the Damage: Buildings"  


The Ombudsman Service does look at Professional Structural Engineering Reports to make their assessment. So it is good if you do have a good company backing you up. 

If you also do a search on their website  "Lasting and Effective" you should get more cases pop up, to see if they are any help to you. 

https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/decisions-case-studies/ombudsman-decisions

I wish you all the success in the World and keep at it. (It is so wearing on the nerves to have to fight all the time.)