Wear and Tear

published on April 8, 2019 by admin

This is a common term used by insurance companies to decline a claim. As an example if you claimed for storm damage to a roof where parts of the roof are damaged and the survey by the insurance company reveals that the whole roof is in a bad state of repair, then they probably will […]

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My neighbours builder caused damage to my home?

published on March 27, 2019 by admin

As the building industry in Ireland is getting busier, renovation of old terrace houses is becoming more frequent. A competent builder will engage a surveyor to do a pre-construction survey of the adjoining houses before construction starts. This will preclude any person with existing cracks claiming that they’re new as a result of the works. […]

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Subrogation – Can an Insurer recover a claim pay-out from a third party

published on March 5, 2019 by Peter

A common issue arises in property claims when a house has been recently re-plumbed and a leak occurs relating to a faulty fitting. Under the policy the insurance company must pay for the damage caused by a leaking pipe fitting. If that faulty fitting was installed in the last 6 years then Insurers have the […]

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Is your Property Subsiding?

published on February 26, 2019 by Peter

So more and more cracks are appearing in your home, what do you do about it? You are covered for subsidence under your home insurance policy. Subsidence is a downward movement of your foundations and walls. If you think your floor is dropping in a certain direction this can be confirmed by a spirit level […]

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Installing Wood Burning Chimney flues through an existing wall

published on February 20, 2019 by Peter

Over the years we have received calls from Clients who recently had wood burning stoves installed. The flues were projecting through existing walls. The manufacturers of these stoves have guidelines on clearance distances between these flues and any combustible material. On one of the fires we acted on, the flues went through an existing stud […]

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Faulty Plumbing Fittings

published on February 11, 2019 by Peter

Recently we have been asked to assess numerous claims involving newly installed plumbing systems. The problems were specific to a push on ¾’’ fittings with a rubber insert onto qual-pex piping on the hot water heating system. The inserts perish over time (2-3 years). The heating systems were failing joint by joint, as each fitting […]

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Duty Of Disclosure – When taking out an insurance policy

published on February 6, 2019 by Peter

Potential policyholders (proposers) have a duty of disclosure when taking out an insurance policy. ‘It is an implied condition in all contracts of insurance that the proposer shall make a full and complete disclosure to the insurer of all material facts relating to the risk to be insured’. Anything concealed is considered fraud and you […]

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Snow coming! Protect your roof

published on January 29, 2019 by Peter

Last winter we assessed hundreds of properties with snow damage to the roofs. When a roof or gutters become over loaded with snow or ice it can do terrible damage. Most roofs wouldn’t be designed to take that excessive weight. Equally a build-up of ice in a gutter can collapse a gutter. Roofs can collapse […]

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Public Authorities Clause

published on January 23, 2019 by Peter

The public view of Property damage policies is that betterment cannot be claimed for and for the most part that is correct but there are instances where there is a form of betterment that is allowed. An example of what is not allowed is, if you have a standard laminate floor that is damaged beyond […]

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Can an Insurance company use their builder to repair your house?

published on January 15, 2019 by Peter

In 2009 when Ireland and the world was in recession, Insurance companies became concerned about the escalating number of property damage claims. To counter this, they decided to use their own builders to do the repairs and these builders would be paid directly by the insurance company. The excess on the policy is then paid […]

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