If you are a tenant in a commercial building with an FRI* lease, then you must ensure the damage is signed off by a competent surveyor, as this will protect your position when it comes to dealing with any dilapidation that occurs further down the line.
Clients in a domestic property should call in a professional, rather than simply relying on a builder to assess the extent of water damage and potential contamination.
If your insurers choose to use cleaning companies to deal with the damage, make sure you consider the guarantee / warranties offered, and, if necessary, find your own or insist on your insurer guaranteeing their choice.
Ensure you are not bullied into using an insurer’s contacts, and that it is completely clear who is being paid what and why. Similarly, you should never feel pressured into using an assessor’s surveying company: certain assessors actually own these, meaning they end up with double fees while you won’t necessarily get the best service for immediate needs.
You shouldn’t simply use the first assessor that comes knocking: if one is absolutely needed, instead consider contacting the Institute of Public Loss Assessors.
As your broker we would try and assist as comprehensively as we can.
If you have suffered storm or flood damage and need assistance out of hours please contact our partner claims handlers, Aspray on 0800 077 6705 and quote Schofield Insurance and they will assist in achieving the best settlement from your insurers and return your home or business back to normal as quickly as possible.
* A FRI lease is the abbreviated term for a lease in which full repairing and insuring obligations are imposed on the tenant thus relieving the landlord from all liability for the cost of insurance and repairs. Landlords are heavily protected to ensure they have the best investment possible by passing on as many costs as possible to the tenant. Most leases on commercial property are of this type.
