To turn this offer down?

[HagridHair]

Had a very big leak and the loss adjuster has come and said that the insurance is offering 1000 for

Replastering upstairs
Reforming the ceiling that fell down
Carpets
Repainting
Electrician to make the lights safe

Agh posted too soon.

Aibu to say no that's not enough here are some quotes from builders and decorators? Or am I wildly over estimating how much they'll pay out?

This is the kind of damage we have on the walls and the ceiling obviously collapsed

Anyone?

I wouldn’t accept the payment tbh. I’m not sure if there’s a limit depending on the claim amount but, for instance, we are in the process of our house being restored and the insurance company are paying for everything. You can ask for them to deal with it.

It has ended up being more long winded but building materials have gone up massively in price so the claim value has increased and they are responsible for paying that. Also the driers took longer than expected which they had to fund.

I'd tell them I'll get quotes for the work that they agree is necessary - ie
Replastering upstairs
Reforming the ceiling that fell down
Carpets
Repainting
Electrician to make the lights safe

And then we will see what they need to be offering.

It's ridiculous if they agree that this work needs to be made good - but are simply offering a random (and nowhere near enough) figure to cover the work. That's not how house insurance is supposed to work.

Insurance companies would prefer for you to accept the claim offer as it means they can wash their hands of it for a known amount rather than it potentially costing them more.

£1000 doesn’t seem like much…we had someone do something badly in our bathroom which caused a leak downstairs. Just treating and repainting the ceiling cost £200+ paint costs. Yours sounds much worse!

I don’t know how dealing with insurers works though as ours was paid for by the company who messed up.

Thanks! I had a feeling they were going to palm us off with a cash payment. I'm going to tell DH not to accept

Surely you get a few quotes and they agree to pay an amount based on those? Eg they probably won't pay the most expensive but will go with a mid range quote.
If your quotes ranged from £1500 to £2300 they surely wouldn't offer lower than the lowest quote (after any policy excess of course).
Only thing that might affect the offer is if you were under insured but they would tell you that

@minionsrule yes I agree! The loss adjuster came out today told me what was covered then offered that! Then when we said we'd like to get some quotes first he offered 1250

They're chancing their arm, and it's standard to low ball you. Fight them all the way, get your quotes and don't accept a penny less. It's exhausting but you will be left out of pocket otherwise, there is no way a grand would put a dent in that

Yup get your quotes. It would see. they are being a bit stingy.

Either that or they’ve decided you don’t need new carpets or decoration and it’s just plastering that bit of ceiling only they are quoting for (or something).

I think it is standard practise for them to try this kind of thing. I would refuse it and get quotes.

Ask them for the breakdown of what's included. They likely will say x job is worth x amount, but have 'forgotten' that x job means y and z job need doing, a b and c need replacing...

When our ceiling can in through water leak they included replacing of the ceiling plaster (as in a skim) but not for the replacement of the plaster boards, or the coving that came down with it, or the painting of said ceiling after replastering... they included the electrical check - but not the replacement light fitting, and then their replacement was listed as £2.00 I.e. a bulb on a cord when the light there was a 5 bulb led light put in the year before etc.

The offer is likely to be based on what the insurers home repair network can do the job for, and this is pretty much always less that the going rate were you to get quotes in from local trades. Cash settlements such as this are to encourage you to do bits and pieces yourself such as the painting, thinking being that you consider that you have got an ok deal, when in fact the loss adjusters have saved money for the insurer, as that it their job. I’d tell them to bugger off and come back with a realistic offer.

Sounds like a massive low ball on their part. Ask them who their preferred trade networks are and get some written itemised quotes from at least 2 (not verbal)

Thanks all

Get quotes - that doesn't sound enough at all

The ceiling may have to be replaced.

They are low balling you.

Get 3 quotes for the job and lob them in.

Don't be bullied.

Get a breakdown of EXACTLY what the job involves, and a breakdown of the work involved.

If the ceiling has to be replaced, its a dirty job that will take time, and money.

Can a plasterer tell if the ceiling has asbestos?

No, you'll need to get it tested. My insurance company paid for that up front and arranged it for me.

If water has soaked into floor boards or inside the walls there may need to be special drying.

My friend had huge fans in her house for a week while she stayed in a hotel (and the dog in a kennel). This was paid for by insurance as part of remediation for a water leak.

The offer is usually based on what value you put on the house when you insured it. So if you pay high insurance premiums because your house is valuable you will get a higher offer. We learnt this as claimed for similar damage. We were also renting out a house to tenants at the time. Initially they thought that was the house with the damage and offered us a paltry amount. When they discovered it was our home with high insurance premiums they came back with a much higher offer.

I've just had the same problem - carpet needed cleaning, not replacing, plus check your excess - if it's say £250 then I think either of the offers is actually OK. Do the carpets really need to be replaced?

My insurers offered cash or to do the work themselves (and I pay the excess), I chose for them to do it all from start to finish including electrics, asbestos test, removal of damaged ceiling, replacement boards, plastering and repainting the walls (not the skirting or architraves). Doing it in-house is much cheaper for them

Get three quotes for the work required and then submit them to the insurance company.
The whole point of insurance is that the loss is made good with like for like materials minus your excess amount.
If you are going to be out of pocket then what's the point if the insurance?
When I had a similar incident the insurance company sorted out all the work and contractors, we just moved to friends for 2days to allow unhindered access.