Storm-battered Brits: Advantages of a Loss Assessor

Leading loss assessor, Property Claim Assist, says British homeowners will require expert assistance with their insurance claims. Especially in the wake of an unprecedented three storms in a week – Dudley, Eunice and Franklin.

It also says that, if ever there was a time for British homeowners to be put fully in the picture as to how the property insurance claims process works, it is now. Additionally, homeowners should be made aware of the advantages of appointing a loss assessor for their claim.

Property Claim Assist has already seen how insurer claims processes left many homeowners who suffered flooding in the July 2021 London floods, still sitting in homes waiting for insurer action three months after the water ingress. Nothing had been done to progress claims. In many cases, the insurer’s loss adjuster had not yet visited.

That is crucial. What British homeowners do not realise, in the vast majority of claims scenarios, is that the loss adjuster, who visits them to review damage and negotiate the claim, is paid by the insurer. They have the role of adjusting the claim – moving the cost of it downwards – to contain costs for the insurer. In many cases, that is done by unfairly interpreting the insurance cover that the insured policyholder bought and offering them less than their just entitlement.

Insurers never have sufficient reserves set aside to pay all claims received, so this process has to occur. The crying shame is that it is a secret of which most homeowners are unaware.

“Given the fact that having three named storms in a week is unprecedented, and that other storms have occurred and could well occur this year, the strains on the available reserves set aside to pay claims are likely to be greater than ever. That does not bode well for insured homeowners,” says Property Claim Assist director, Simon Colburn.

“The best chance that a homeowner has of achieving a fair settlement is to get their own representation. Most are not experts in insurance terminology or policy documents. Therefore do not go into negotiations on an even playing field with the insurer’s loss adjuster. They need someone in their corner.” This is one of the key advantages of appointing a loss assessor like Property Claim Assist.

There are two main ways to have someone in their corner. They can either appoint a loss assessor to represent them and pay that loss assessor a commission or fee. Most homeowners are reticent to do that, as it comes out of their pocket. The other way is to work with a loss assessor like Property Claim Assist. They are members of the Chartered Insurance Institute, the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters and the Society of Claims Professionals. Additionally, they will charge nothing for the entire loss assessing service, if their trusted trades contractors handle the schedule of works required for the property repairs. Rather than viewing this as a negative that reduces consumer choice, most homeowners appreciate this is a huge plus.

For most, getting hold of the required three tradespeople who can quickly visit, quote and then schedule in repairs is an impossibility. In parts of the country, tradespeople are booked up 3-9 months ahead, or longer. Repairs can be carried out faster, if Property Claim Assist’s trusted and vetted tradespeople are used.

Homeowners also do not have to fall into the trap of appointing cowboy tradespeople. People who do not have the quality of workmanship that would be required. Only those committed to good standards of work are part of the Property Claim Assist service.

Then, homeowners do not have to supervise the schedule of works themselves. Property Claim Assist will do that, liaising with their tradespeople. For some works, the law makes the property owner legally liable for the health and safety of tradespeople working at their property and that can be a huge legal burden. By working with Property Claim Assist, this responsibility is removed.

“The big question here in the UK is why homeowners are continually left in the dark about the advantages of having their own loss assessor,” says Property Claim Assist’s Gary Rogers. “Myself and Simon have seen how homeowners are treated, having been on the other side of the fence. The fact we could not tolerate that, and so crossed over to be on the homeowner’s side, speaks volumes about what goes on and yet nobody talks about it. With large numbers of homeowners across the UK having suffered storm and flood damage, the time is now.”

Accessing support with your own property insurance claim, or that of a loved one, is extremely simple. Just call Property Claim Assist on 0333 577 2720 or gain more information at www.propertyclaimassist.co.uk