flood

Flooding & escape of water - making a claim

Flooded house?

If your home has water damage because of flooding or escape of water, you'll want to sort it as quickly and painlessly as possible. After making sure everyone is safe, here are the most important things to do: 

  • Contact your insurer and have your policy documents to hand if possible.
  • Make an accurate record of all the damage to your property (if you can, take photos of every room).
  • If possible, use a permanent pen to mark the level the flood water reached on the walls. Keep a marker handy in case you need it.
  • Make a list of all your damaged possessions and take photos before you throw anything away.
  • Don’t forget about the food in your cupboards and freezer. If you need to throw out defrosted food, for example, your insurance policy might also cover you for this. 
Did You Know...? Your insurer will recommend a company to carry out the repair work to your home. You're free to choose alternative suppliers. However, if they charge more than the insurer’s budget, you may not be covered for the full cost of the work. So, always check!

 

How to make a flood damage claim

Six things you need to know:

1. If you own your home, contact your insurance company to tell them you are making a home insurance claim because of a flood. If you have different insurers for your buildings and contents, you will need to contact both providers if your home contents are damaged.

2. If you live in rented accommodation, you will need to contact your landlord to deal with the building insurance. You will be responsible for the contents insurance so you will need to contact your contents insurer. Also, check with your landlord whether they will provide alternative accommodation.

3. The insurer might send a loss adjuster round to assess the cost of the damage. If your policy includes alternative accommodation while flood damage repairs are made, they can make these arrangements too. Make sure your insurer gives you as clear an idea as possible about the process and what you can expect. For example, how long it will take to process your flood or escape of water claim.

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“A loss adjuster may need to visit your home to assess the damage and specialist cleaning and drying companies may need to be employed. Severe flood damage can take a long time to repair. However, as long as you have the right level of cover, your insurer should support you through the restoration process. That should be the case no matter how many days, weeks or months it takes.”

Swinton Insurance

4. Be aware that the assessor may not be able to come out immediately. In the meantime, try to leave any damaged items where they are until the loss adjuster sees them. Make sure they have the right contact details for you and can gain access to your home.

5. When making a claim, keep a record of all contact with your insurer. Your log should include who you spoke to, as well as what was agreed and when. Remember to keep hold of any letters, emails and receipts for repair work.

6. With most insurance policies, the insurer will deduct a pre-agreed amount from the pay-out for any claim you make. This is known as the policy ‘excess’. Be aware of this and check what level of excess has been agreed before you call, so it doesn’t come as a surprise.

Remember, your insurer is there to help.

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