Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different types of property insurance claims?
Property insurance claims vary, from those involving natural factors (heavy rainfall, or storm damage), to those one-off events that could not be prevented (leaks from pipes, burst pipes, fire). All Property Claims is an FCA-regulated company that delivers a comprehensive service and can negotiate all types of claims with your insurer to get the best possible outcome for you.
Are fire damage claims often refused?
When your fire damage claim is taken on by All Property Claims, you can rest assured that it is unlikely to be refused. As we do not charge for our service, we are careful in only accepting claims which we know will succeed. We spend time validating each claim by taking into account the circumstances of the fire and carefully reviewing your insurance policy cover.
Recover from the repercussions of a house fire and get your home fully restored with our expert assistance.
How bad does an incident need to be to make a fire insurance claim?
Depending on how severe a blaze is, you may still be living in the property or may have already moved to alternative accommodation. Our surveyors are well-placed to oversee the damage your home has sustained from a fire, advising you on the appropriate course of action.
Restoring a property after fire damage requires not only the obvious building repairs but could also include defogging the air to clear out the smell of smoke which may have gotten into your service voids, ventilation, and even the insulation behind the walls in your property.
How can I protect my home from property damage?
Though there are routine actions you can take to safeguard a property from damage such as general maintenance, the reality is that certain forms of damage cannot be predicted or avoided. For example, it is almost impossible to account for an electrical fire from an appliance malfunction or avoid water damage from a burst pipe, a central heating leak or flooding.
The best way to protect yourself is by having adequate insurance cover and ensuring that when the time comes to make a claim you appoint a reputable claims management company that will fight your corner. Remember your insurance company does not make money by paying insurance claims – they make money by collecting premiums from you.
Having an FCA-regulated claims management company such as All Property Claims to act on your behalf is advisable as they will protect your best interests.
Will I pay a lot for fire damage restoration?
Fire is undoubtedly a destructive force, therefore the damage sustained by properties which suffer such incidents will likely be costly. Restoring your home after fire damage may require structural repairs, smoke defogging, soot cleaning, desanitisation and redecorations. If the fire was extensive and a Fire Brigade had to control the fire with water, you will also have resultant water damage and your property will need to be dried professionally.
Repairing a property after fire damage is not cheap, however costs can be assessed in conjunction with a site meeting with the insurance loss adjuster and with reference to your policy wording.
If you appoint Allpropertyclaims to deal with your fire damage claim then once the repairs are agreed we will undertake all the works and send the invoice to your insurer. You will not need to pay a penny.
Can anyone make a property damage claim?
So long as you own the property, have buildings insurance and providing the damage in your property was from an insured peril and not due to lack of maintenance, you can make a valid claim.
Your insurer makes money by collecting premiums from you – not by settling claims. So if you have suffered damage to your property, it is advisable to appoint an FCA-regulated claims management expert such as Allpropertyclaims who will fight your corner and ensure the best outcome for you
What are the different types of malicious damage?
Malicious damage is generally any form of damage which is intended to purposefully vandalise or deface your property or premises, and includes trespassing, graffiti, tipping or dumping of waste, smashed windows, and more. In most cases, malicious damage will be caused by the current or previous tenant, though it can sometimes involve strangers.
Is a smoke claim different from a fire damage claim?
We all know the famous phrase, that there’s ‘no smoke without fire’, and this remains true in the context of common house fires. Often smoke can cause visible black markings and soot on ceilings, walls and furniture. It is important to sanitise all surfaces and undertake air defogging as left untreated this could be damaging to your health. We treat smoke claims in the same manner as fire claims, with expert assessment and negotiation with your insurer to get all required repairs agreed upon.
Do most house claims have the same outcome?
No claim is exactly the same and each has its unique challenges. However, if you appoint All Property Claims to handle your insurance claim you can expect an efficient service, safe in the knowledge that less than 0.5% of claims we have presented have ever been refused by insurers. In other words, if we take on your case, you can expect quick approval and resolution.
What does a loss adjuster do?
A loss adjuster is responsible for representing an insurance company and will check the validity of your claim, while attempting to minimise the claim amount, for the benefit of the company they are representing. As part of our process, we meet with the insurer’s appointed loss adjusters on-site to validate the claim and get the scope of repair works agreed upon. Once the scope of works is agreed the loss adjuster will negotiate costs. As an FCA-regulated claims management expert, Allpropertyclaims is able to technically negotiate the costs with reference to your policy contract wording and also previous Ombudsman rulings.
Should an insurer always be approached first for fire claims?
It is important to notify your insurer of the fire damage within a reasonable period of time. However if you set up your claim directly with the insurer instead of first involving an expert such as Allpropertyclaims to represent you, you may be setting yourself up for a lengthy and long-winded process. We are regulated and authorised by the FCA, providing detailed step-by-step updates throughout, allowing you to spend the time on more important matters.
Will you talk directly to the insurance company’s loss adjuster?
If we take on your claim we will deal with your insurer and their representatives. It will be our job to present, negotiate and settle your claim and ensure that you are being treated fairly by the insurance company. We are well known by all insurers and loss adjusters and though we are on opposite sides of the fence, most adjusters know us and we have mutual professional respect for each other.
Where can I get property damage insurance help?
Allpropertyclaims is an FCA-regulated claims management expert who acts on behalf of the homeowner to present, negotiate and settle property damage claims. If we agree to take on your claim, you can rest assured of a positive outcome as we have less than 0.5% of claims repudiated.
Once your claim is approved we will get our builders to undertake all the repairs and send the invoice to your insurer. You will not need to pay a penny other than the policy excess.
Who can help me with my fire insurance claim?
While insurers may claim to offer direct help with your repairs and compensation in the wake of an unexpected fire, remember that they do not make money by paying claims. They make money by collecting your premiums.
Before accepting a cash settlement from your insurer or agreeing to allow the insurer’s contractor to take over your claim and do your repairs, it is advisable to go onto the Financial Ombudsman Service website and check how many complaints were upheld against your insurer in the last six months. We guarantee you will find the results horrifying and quite shocking.
We would also encourage you to search for complaints against Allpropertyclaims. You will see that there has never been one single complaint upheld against our company by the Financial Ombudsman Service. This is because our entire business model is focused on ensuring that our customers get a fair outcome from their insurer and we will always go the extra mile to fight for our client’s rights such that their fire or water-damaged property is restored to their pre-loss condition.