House fire today - what to do/expect with insurance?

[Smowk]

Everyone is ok and it could have been SO much worse. Mainly smoke damage.

Rented house. The whole of downstairs was full of thick black smoke, and it absolutely reeks. It looks ok now, it’s just very dirty and so so smelly.

I have contents insurance. Will they replace items that are structurally ok but stink? Like expensive coats, floor rugs, made to measure curtains etc?

The floor and walls I think will clean up apart from where the fire was - are they likely to redecorate and put new floors down because of the smoke smell?

Thank you. And sorry to anyone who has been through this!

Your landlord should claim the structural damage under his insurance. And arrange urgent gas and electricity checks.

That must have been so scary. Depending on cost/ replacability they can often salvage smoke damaged things, but if it can't or isn't economically viable against the cost of cleaning it would be replaced. With walls etc, specialist cleaners can be used and if not able to be cleaned it would be redecorated, but that would be with your landlords buildings insurance.
Your insurers will send out a loss adjuster to look at it all and get things moving, so don't clean or chuck anything out till its been assessed.

Thank you. Anyone else been through this please?

How did it happen?

How does that impact what OP is asking, or are you just being nosey?

Hey, I’ve been though it Fire in May. Only in outbuildings and garden office but a lot of contents.

how the fire started is irrelevant unless OP started it on purpose or possibly if it was a chimney fire and chimney hadn’t been swept. I’m assuming neither applied.

I don’t know all the answers as I still haven’t been paid for contents. Only fences and sheds and the office building.

the insurance sent a disaster firm round to do a clear up. They removed contents and will assess everything to see what can be restored and what can’t be. I’m still waiting to hear about most stuff. I know my sofa and desk have been deemed non salvaged. So I should get a pay out for those. They testing electronic stuff currently.

I also have a list of stuff which wasn’t even there after the fire, just ash. I’m struggling to find out what happens regarding those items.

But yes if your rugs, etc can’t be professionally cleaned so they don’t stink they should pay. I’m assuming you can’t live there now? Are you sorted for accommodation?

Never had a fire but we did have a flood a few years ago. Phoned contents insurer. They sent a form to complete asking for a list of all damaged items. They had a company which replaced some of them (mostly electronics) and then sent a cheque for the value of the remainder.

They didn't even send anyone out to check, just took our word for it. We weren't claiming for anything particularly high value though. Think the total claim was less than £10k. It may be a different process if you are claiming for expensive things.

I’ve been through this. Our insurance collected everything that was in the affected area and sorted through it. We had to write an extensive list of all items and send it to them too (they’ll explain what details they need) they then basically wrote everything off and paid out A LOT. I was able to request damaged items back and did as some were sentimental and were just a bit dirty.

I’m sorry you’ve been through this. I know the absolute terror. Please reach out for support if needed as years later we’re all emotionally scarred from the experience. Sending love.

Thank you all. Sorry to those who have been through this.

It was a tumble dryer fire. Not sure how as I religiously empty the lint. Luckily I never have it on when I’m not home but I was out in the garden so didn’t notice immediately.

You have mu utmost sympathies, we had a drier fire too luckily ours was in an outbuilding with a smoke detector but it is scary how quickly the bloody things go up in smoke.

Was the tumble dryer Whirlpool? they were the ones that were responsible for several fires and had the recall. If not this brand would you give us an indication of what it is please.

All the best with the insurance claim, and glad you and yours ok

It was a Hotpoint - it was a replacement from Hotpoint for a previous dryer that also went up in smoke. After that you can rightly assume that I was VERY paranoid about emptying the lint.
So I won’t be getting another Hotpoint!

Hm, I’m not sure how me asking how it makes an impact makes me an idiot. I don’t know about you but when I don’t know something I try to learn about it by asking questions or seeking answers. But that makes me an idiot? Ok then

To be honest I think it’s good (and normal) to want to know how a fire started. It’s something which worries most people so they want to know to see if they can learn anything/reduce their risk.

i remember years ago a MNer also had a tumble dryer fire and was woken up by the smoke alarm. Sadly her cats died. I’ve never forgotten and since then have never run appliances at night.

It's something I'm a bit paranoid about, particularly because I live alone and I have no sense of smell (literally none due to a medical condition). So no I wasn't being nosy but finding out how someone else's story could potentially stop me being in the same position then I'll ask the question. The OP was kind enough to answer.

I have professional knowledge of this subject. I’m sorry you are going through this.

Your landlord will need to claim for the damage to your building which should include smoke cleaning and decontamination.

Your claim for the contents damage should include a specialist content assessment company being appointed who will arrange a visit to assess all damaged items, listing them as Beyond Economic Repair, Restorable and undamaged. They may take the restorable items away to action restoration.

The insurer may need to get damaged electrical contents tested or ask you to provide reports confirming if they are damaged BER. They should also arrange disposal of any items deemed BER.

This process may take some time but the assessment visit should happen very quickly, within days of you making your claim. You may be asked to supply proof of purchase for items if the value suggested for replacement is less than you feel is reasonable.

Dependent on how habitable the property is after the incident, you may avail of alternative accommodation cover if provided by your contents policy. You should discuss this with the insurer if it is something you need and you should be prepared to provide a copy of your tenancy agreement to the insurer for review of terms.

You may also be asked to keep the appliance that caused the fire as the insurer may attempt recovery of costs which should include your excess from the manufacturer. You should ask your insurer about this as early as possible.

I don’t know if the firemen told you OP, but please throw away any food, apart from tins and jars that you’ve not opened and broken the suction on, ie if you’ve opened a jar of jam, thought smells good, then closed it, bin it. Plus packets etc.

I am so sorry to hear of your fire, but glad everyone is ok. I had a lot of smoke damage from a neighbours fire.

My contents insurance were brilliant! They insisted on paying out for ALL soft furnishings, clothing, curtains, sofas mattresses bedding, towels etc. They even paid out for a replacement pushchair. As they said smoke is a real risk to babies. (I had my 9 month old grandchild here at the time.)

I couldn’t fault them. There were no quibbles at all. My landlords sorted a complete redec, so once that was done I was able to purchase everything. Hopefully you have the same experience OP.

We had a house fire a few years ago. Firstly do you have somewhere to stay? It could be a while before you get back in. Our building’s insurance covered a rented accommodation but we were out of our house a year.
We were also give money upfront to buy temporary furniture and clothes it was a lot around 3k . We also got an advance of 5k to get things we needed.

we were allocated an investigator who liaised with companies and managed the payout for us

we got paid out for everything that was damaged. Our contents insurance did old for new so what ever the cost of the item to buy now was what we got. Some stuff that was great so say a kettle that cost £50 now costs £60 so we got £60. But a laptop that cost £400 has devalued so we got £250. For items over £10 we had to provide proof of the cost. I would recommend itemising everything, the insurance company will also do it but it’s good to have a list of your own. Some items were cleaned and returned to us.

There’s a poster on MN who had a terrible fire and posted a lot about the experience and had a thread on insta

I think it was this thread, maybe it’s helpful: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4572093-to-ask-for-a-hand-hold-we-lost-our-home?reply=117986852

so sorry you’ve experienced this

Who were you insured with? They sound brilliant.

@Smowk I'm sorry this has happened & this is the second time 🙄

I hope it all gets sorted efficiently for you, but the main thing us you're all ok 😍

I was with John Lewis. They went above and beyond! I would never go elsewhere after my experience with them.

OP, ideally the insurance Co should send out a specialist assessor.

Depending in the scale of the fire plumbing pipes could be warped, electric wiring damaged, and smoke / carbon residue inside other electrical / electronic goods can itself become a fire hazard.

Really sorry this happened, very frightening.