Home insurance company and builders trying to shaft us. URGENT help needed.

[WhycantIkeepthisbloodyplantalive]

Hi,

We have had to put a 2 separate house insurance claims in due to extensive water damage in two separate incidents (happened working a couple of days of each other.

First claim on downstairs toilet and small area in kitchen where it has seeped through. Second on hallway ceiling and floor under boiler (leaked through the ceiling).

We had a surveyor from the home insurance company assess damage and what needs to be done, we were then offered a settlement fee of £5000 by the Insurance company which we didn't take as we knew the repairs were likely going to cost a lot more.

The home insurance company then gave work to a building a company who sent an independent surveyor in their behalf who matched the other surveyors assessment.

We have just had the builder turn up to double check for materials and he stated what would be doing.

Both independent surveyors assessed that the following needed to be done:

*floor under boiler replacing as is likely to crumble due to its material.
*ceiling cut out and replaced.
*Kitchen, downstairs hallway, ceiling, upstairs hallway including stairs all to be painted due to needing to colour match.
*All drywall removed and replaced and painted in downstairs toilet and floor replaced.

What builder just told me they are going to be doing:

*not replacing floor under boiler.
*paint only the ceiling and patch the other areas with magnolia where water damaged( not same paint as already there)
*sand walls in downstairs toilet, seal with mould paint, repaint existing walls and replace flooring with linoleum (originally engineered wood and underlay).
*cutting out and replacing hallway ceiling (where damaged), which is at risk of boiler falling through.

The work is due to start at 9am tomorrow! None of the insurance companies lines are open until 9am. I have phoned the building company (owner) and said I could do the same work that the builders are doing in my toilet for £300 and that we were offered £1500 as a settlement. I also said I could pay a plasterer £700 to do the work in hallway and have gained £4000 in cash from the home insurance company. I am waiting for a call back from him after checks the surveyors report.

My AIBU is, Can I tell the builder not to come tomorrow? Is it too late to accept the settlement fee now hey have given the work out to this company?
-The builders have come from the midlands and are staying in a hotel nearby whilst doing the work

(I have also posted this in legal).

TIA

Call the insurance company in the morning they won’t have done much before then will they

Don’t panic. If the insurance company have assessed the work as listed this is how it should be carried out and you should advise your insurer that your builder is not completing the work as stated. The builder will be being paid to carry it out do the insurer needs to be informed. Call them first thing. Are you sure it wasn’t different contractors for different jobs? We had a serious escape of water and it involved several different contractors.

They have to put you back to the same state as before the incident.

Patching walls in a different paint is not ok. Giving you a lesser quality floor is it ok.

Halt the works, log a complaint (make sure you tell them it is to be responded to within FCA guidelines and NOT closed without your written approval) and be prepared to go to the ombudsman if necessary after eight weeks.

Thank you so much for the replies. Reading all of them.

So best option is to halt builder and call insurance company in the morning? Even if I tell them not to, will that cause them to cancel the claim because I'm refusing the work?

They have given both contracts to the same company. I'm so angry and feel like Im being fleeced for thousands. I really hate things like this, feel incredibly awkward talking to the builder (who is clearly trying to have one over on me).

I had to call a halt to work for an insurance claim following a kitchen fire at my elderly mums. Amongst other things the kitchen work surface had a hole burned right through to cupboard below. The contractor was going to fill it and paint the surface to a 'close match', insisting that replacing the work top would be betterment! Rang the insurance company to complain. Builder was instructed to replace the worktop.

I just wanted to say that I hope you are able to get this sorted out properly OP, you definitely shouldn't be worse off after the work is done, and it sounds like there is still a risk of the boiler coming through the ceiling if the floor underneath it isn't replaced, so that should definitely be done properly. I guess in your shoes, and without any other advice, I would tell the builders not to start work in the morning until you have been able to speak to the insurers, as you're not happy with what they're planning to do, versus what the insurers have told you will be done. Good luck with it all, it sounds like a bit of a nightmare!

@WhycantIkeepthisbloodyplantalive what insurance company?

Wow, that sounds like a real mess. It's frustrating when insurance companies and builders don't seem to be on the same page. Since you're dealing with water damage, it's crucial to get it fixed properly to avoid further issues down the line. Dealing with insurance and builders can be a headache. When it comes to water damage, getting it fixed properly matters most. It's wise to wait until you can talk to your homeowner’s insurance company to ensure the repairs align with what's needed. They can also guide you on accepting the settlement fee, considering the situation. Finding the best homeowners insurance is crucial for situations like these, where you need support and clarity on what's covered.