House fire: £150,000 buildings, contents and alternative accommodation claim

When Mr & Mrs Biggs decided to have part of their roof of their West Midlands house replaced, they employed a reputable company to carry it out. The job was going extremely well when, suddenly, Mr Biggs noticed smoke coming from one section of the roof. When the workmen lifted the roof tiles, the fire took hold, spread by a large wasps’ nest. Although the fire brigade arrived very quickly, the house was so badly damaged that it was uninhabitable.

Mrs & Mrs Biggs were devastated and, as well as the stress of losing their home, they also faced a complicated insurance claim – and they felt completely out of their depth. Someone suggested that they contacted Morgan Clark and a loss assessor was soon with them: “By the time Morgan Clark’s representative had finished talking to us, we thought ‘thank goodness for that’. This set us on a course which turned the dreadful experience of the fire into one of the most positive and life-affirming experiences we have had.”

The claim

Morgan Clark immediately arranged for funds to support Mr & Mrs Biggs while they stayed with friends and for initial expenditure to replace vital lost items. They then found them suitable rental accommodation nearby to stay in until the house was reinstated.

Morgan Clark brought in specialist emergency contractors to protect the house and enable repairs to commence. Once this was done, they engaged chartered surveyors who put together a specification for reinstating the house, which was agreed by the insurer’s loss adjuster, and then brought in specialist contractors to carry out the work. They also put together the very complicated and large contents claim.

The results

After negotiations with the insurer’s loss adjuster, the final claim was settled at approximately £150,000: £100,000 buildings, £43,000 contents and £7,000 alternative accommodation. Mr & Mrs Biggs also took the opportunity to have some additional work carried out, including a new roof design and some internal alterations. Morgan Clark discussed and agreed with them their contribution to cover the extra costs for doing this.

Mr Biggs is convinced that the outcome would not have been the same without Morgan Clark: “I really wouldn’t have known what to do. Without them, I would have been completely at sea, on my own facing a well-oiled machine.

“The knowledge that we had someone on our side took a massive amount of uncertainty off our shoulders. Morgan Clark were able to suggest, advise, support and represent us at every stage and with every partner. We cannot imagine what the process would have been like if we had not had their assistance.”

No matter what has caused the damage to your home, Morgan Clark will guide you through the insurance claim process and ensure you are back in your home as quickly as possible while ensuring you receive the full settlement you’re entitled to. Contact our Birmingham & West Midlands Loss Assessors today to find out more.