Insurance claim escape of water

junebaby

Hi

2nd post today. Will be glad to see the end of this year!!

Washing machine packed up. John Lewis came to install new one. When they pulled the old one out the floor under was soaking. We have had a leak from our stop !!!!!! which had obviously been going on for a long time. 

Covered by insurance. Plumber and assessor sent out. 

We have a kitchen/diner with amtico flooring. Insurance have offered £4,750 to fix repairs. This includes taking up all flooring including amtico, base and replacing wet floorboards. New amtico. A skip, side panel down side of cooker. Replacing carcas, but not door of corner unit. Replacing and painting skirting. Also making good wall behind washing machine/corner unit. 

We are getting our own quotes for the work. Contractor came out to price for all works excluding amtico and base. 

We have a crack in our granite which he feels was caused by movement due to the wet. Also to replace side panel and get the carcas out of the corner he could not guarantee that the granite would completely crack and as the kitchen is 20 years old a new carcas would be a different size and not fit our door. 

He thinks we need a new kitchen. Insurance have told us to get a report from contractor and submit it. 

Flooring will take up most of the £4750.   

Any advice appreciated. 

junebaby

Granite crack. 

MyRealNameToo

Submit what you've been told to and see what they say. 

Also read your policy book paying particular attention to how they deal with "matching sets". Most basic policies will only cover the parts that have been damaged by the incident and the fact replacements arent available etc isnt the insurer's concerns. If the whole kitchen needs to be replaced then at best on a basic policy the insurer will pay for the bits directly damaged and make up to 50% contribution on the undamaged parts with you having to make up the rest. 

junebaby

Thank you will check policy documents. 

TadleyBaggie

There is no way you would get a whole new kitchen for free, the value of the kitchen after 20 years use would be a tiny fraction of what you paid. 

MyRealNameToo

TadleyBaggie said:

There is no way you would get a whole new kitchen for free, the value of the kitchen after 20 years use would be a tiny fraction of what you paid. 

Some people certainly have, when buying top tier policies. 

Home insurance is typically written on a new for old basis. Ignoring the appliances there hasn't been big movements in kitchen technology so arguing what is like for like is easier than say a flag ship TV from 20 years ago. 

eddddy

Just as an aside - not relating to insurance... regarding the cracked granite worksurface... there are companies who do invisible granite repairs. 

But presumably the granite worktop cracked because part of it was lifted by a swelling carcass panel or similar, so you'd have to deal with that first, and get the worktop level again, before doing the repair.