If you are dealing with a loss adjuster subsidence in a building insurance claim, you may quickly realise the process is not always as straightforward as you hoped. Many homeowners and property owners find themselves frustrated when their building insurance claim is handled in a way that delays repairs or minimises costs. This is where having a structural engineer on your side can make all the difference.
What is a loss adjuster on a building insurance claim?
When you make a building insurance claim for subsidence or other structural damage the insurance company employs a loss adjuster to make sure they are not paying out on a claim which is not covered by your insurance. The insurance company will appoint a loss adjuster to handle the technical elements of the claim. The loss adjuster will gather information about your claim and then make a recommendation to the insurers on whether or what repairs are required.
To reach this conclusion, the loss adjuster will inspect your property and may recommend investigations such as ground investigations, drain surveys, tree studies or monitoring of cracks to find out how and when the building is moving. The loss adjuster will find and appoint these investigations on behalf of the insurers. Once the loss adjuster has established what remedial works are required, they will obtain prices and programmes from builders for those works. The loss adjuster will then appoint the builder and manage the remedial works on your property on behalf of your insurers.
What does a loss adjuster do for me?
A loss adjuster will handle your claim for the insurance company. In a loss adjuster building insurance claim it’s important to remember that they will not be acting for you but instead will be acting for your insurer. As they are working for the insurance company, the loss adjuster will often work to make sure the least money is spent repairing your property and to delay any repairs being done. In some cases, the loss adjuster may be actively working against you.
Many loss adjusters may use staff with little or no relevant experience or qualifications to consider the technical aspects of your case. They also often try to carry out unnecessary investigations as a means of delaying when repairs to your property will actually be carried out. Both of these approaches are against your interests as their advice is often not technically valid and they can cause years of delay between you making a claim and getting your property repaired.
This is why many policyholders feel they need independent building insurance claim help to ensure their property is restored correctly and without avoidable delays.
Why do I need a structural engineer when dealing with a claim on building insurance?
Homeowners or property owners often need a structural engineer because a loss adjuster may be working in the interest of the insurance company, not you. You may need a structural engineer to check that the actions and suggestions made by the loss adjuster are suitable for the damage to your property.
In building insurance claim disputes, the structural engineer is also able to comment on whether the loss adjuster is acting in a timely manner to help get your property repaired as soon as possible. Having an independent structural engineer with experience in building insurance claims can help protect your interests and ensure repairs are appropriate for the damage.
Case Example: Successful Resolution of a Long-Running Claim
In one recent case, we acted for a homeowner whose subsidence insurance claim had been stalled for over five years due to disputes with the appointed loss adjuster. Over several years, our team reviewed detailed technical reports, challenged inaccurate findings, and worked to ensure the correct remedial works were included in the building insurance claim scope.
Our persistence, combined with clear technical evidence collected by our chartered structured engineers, eventually persuaded the Financial Ombudsman to threaten legal action against the loss adjuster. This breakthrough meant the client’s claim could finally move forward, allowing the necessary repairs to be carried out and enabling them to progress with selling their property.
This case is the perfect example that with the right technical expertise and determination, it is possible to resolve even the most entrenched disputes with insurers or their representatives and get the outcome you need.
How will a structural engineer help me on my claim on my building insurance?
A structural engineer can help you on your building insurance claim by representing you when dealing with the loss adjuster. A structural engineer can comment technically on whether the testing or remedial works suggested by the loss adjuster are the correct approach. They can also comment on the timing of the loss adjuster’s proposals for testing or repair work.
It is very often the case that the loss adjuster’s proposals are not appropriate either technically or in terms of timing. A structural engineer loss collaboration, where the engineer is working for you, can provide technical reports and recommendations that carry significant weight with insurers, loss adjusters and, if necessary, solicitors. This will help make sure your property gets the repairs it actually needs and that they are carried out as soon as possible.
A structural engineer can:
- Review all proposals from the loss adjuster
- Advise on appropriate investigations such as a subsidence structural survey or tree root subsidence report
- Confirm whether or not recommended remedial works are technically sound
- Provide independent reports that can be used in building insurance claim disputes or as part of legal proceedings
- Act quickly to ensure repairs are not unnecessarily delayed
What should I look for in a structural engineer when choosing one?
The first thing you should look for is that the structural engineer has experience of dealing with building insurance claims. Insurance claims require a particular type of approach from an engineer and one familiar with the practices of loss adjusters will be best suited to helping you.
After this, check they have experience of dealing with properties similar to yours in size and age. There are large variations in the type of construction for buildings across the centuries and it is vital your engineer has experience of your type and age of property so they can give suitable advice.
Lastly, your structural engineer should be a chartered civil or structural engineer. This will be shown as the letters CEng MICE or CEng MIStructE after their name. These qualifications show they have the required education and technical experience to give valid advice. These qualifications are also typically required by insurance companies or mortgage lenders when they might become involved in renewing insurance or buying your property in the future.
Abbott Holliday Partnership
At Abbott Holliday Partnership, we are very well positioned to help in cases involving insurance claims and loss adjusters. All our engineers are chartered and we have over 45 years of experience in dealing with insurance claims for our customers. We will provide you with a report that you can use in your case against your insurer. Contact us today to discuss your case and we will be happy to help.