Flooding Help: Tips on Claiming Compensation From Your Buildings Insurance

The recent floods in the United Kingdom have left many households without a home due to flood damage. Over the past couple of years, the unseasonably high amounts of rainfall that have fallen in the summer months have caused a high level of disruption. In some cases a whole month’s rainfall fell in just one day causing a serious amount of damage as river banks burst and torrents of water flooded settlements.

After such a traumatic experience, the unfortunate individuals must try to pick up the pieces and start re-building their lives. The first port of call will be generally the daunting task of approaching the insurance company and submitting an insurance claim. This requires them to provide relevant documents, which might have been destroyed by the flood. However, all is not lost.

Here are some tips on claiming compensation from buildings insurance:

Ensure that you create an organised list of all the items that sustained damage. This may include items lost or damaged within the property but also any structural damage sustained to the property itself.

It is very important to try and keep a photographic record that can be cross referenced with you full list of damages. The more extensive and detailed you can provide, the better your chances of receiving an improved payout from your insurance company.

It is also recommended that you keep the damaged items if possible because they may be required for assessment. In addition, if you can provide any documents that show evidence of purchase like receipts, bank statements or credit card bills, this can be crucial in your claim.

If any of your supporting documents such as title deeds, insurance papers or identity documents have been lost or damaged during the floods, you can always seek additional copies from relevant providers. Buildings Insurance companies will generally give you 180 days time to provide them with all the details. Take enough time you require and insure you have included as much information for the insurance company to carry out their job.

Remember to keep a constant record of any additional costs incurred. This will include anything from having to pay for temporary accommodation, buying new clothes through to any fees incurred in sourcing additional paperwork. Many Buildings Insurance Companies will provide alternative accommodation as a standard part of a flooding policy. It’s always important to double check what you are covered before taking action to ensure you are not more out of pocket after this traumatic experience.

Flood damage is never an easy thing to deal with when it generally can cause such severe damage to our homes but this guide should help you take the right steps to overcome this difficult time.