We have over 25 years experience in dealing with Insurers, their Loss Adjusters and their Engineers. Mainly these claims are for structural movement arising from the operation of an insured peril.

Insurance Claims:

Structural Movement / Subsidence / Structural Cracking:

Most house insurance policies cover damage due to an escape of water, and again most will cover subsidence. An escape of water, e.g. from drains, is very often a cause of structural movement and cracking in the walls of buildings. Dangers to your property for which you are insured are known as Insured Perils, and once an Insured Peril has operated you can invoke the coverage of your policy. Below are the usual steps taken when initiating and resolving an Insurance Claim for structural damage due to an escape of water.

• Structural Movement is identified in the structure, generally by noticing cracks in the walls of the house or building.
• A suitably qualified Engineer is engaged to assess the structure and identify the cause of the movement.
• If it is established that an insured peril has operated, the insurance company are notified of same either by the building owner or the Enginerr acting on their behalf.
• The insurance company will generally appoint a Loss Adjuster to handle the claim on their behalf and to ensure that a fair and equitable settlement is reached.
• The Engineer, acting on behalf of the building owner, will meet with the Loss Adjuster on site to explain how the insured peril has operated and show the Loss Adjuster what damage has been caused.
• In the case of Damage Due To An Escape Of Water the Engineer will furnish the Loss Adjuster with a Drains Test Result showing where the leaks are occuring, and will have a trial hole excavated at the foundation close to the leak to prove the softening of the soil.
• Once the Loss Adjuster has accepted that an insured peril has operated, both the Engineer and the Insurer's Engineer will agree on a scope of remedial works required to make good all damage caused and carry out the necessary reinstatement and redcoration works.
• The home owner's Engineer will then engage a firm of suitably experienced contractors to provide a quoatation for the proposed scope of works.
• This quotation will then be forwarded to the Loss Adjuster for his consideration.
• The Engineer, acting on behalf of the building owner, will then enter into negotiations with the Loss Adjuster to agree upon an equitable settlement that is in accordance with the terms of the insurance policy.
• When a settlement figure has been agreed the insurance company will forward an initial cheque for approximately 80% of the agreed sum to the policy holder. And once the work is completed to the Engineer's satisfaction and suitable invoices are to hand for the work carried out the final payment will be forwarded to the policy holder.
• Once the settlement has been agreed the property owner will appoint a contractor or contractors of thier choice to carry out the specified works for an agreed sum.
• When the works have been completed to the satisfaction of the Supervising Engineer, all relevant invoices are forwarde to the Loss Adjuster to vouch that the work has been carried out and costs incurred.
• The Loss Adjuster will then generally notify the insurance company of this and request that the retained monies be released.
• Once these retained monies are recieved by the policy holder, all outstanding accounts can be settled.

If you are concerned that your house or other structure is either Subsiding or Settling feel free to contact our office, or requesting a call back by below.