How home insurance claims are assessed

Making an insurance claim can be a daunting task. Here at Policy Expert we can help clarify this process so you understand how it all works.

An insurance company will usually have a team of assessors who may work directly for them. Or, they might use external assessors that are locally-based who can make visits to carry out the work needed to assess your claim. What you are claiming for will affect how this process is carried out.

If you are making a claim for damage against your property, such as a leaking pipe or broken window, an assessor will usually visit your home to inspect any damage that has occurred. They may have to fill in forms, ask you questions and even take photographs of the damage. The assessor will then report this information and their own findings back to the insurance company. The insurance company will have probably already looked closely at your policy to check that what you are claiming for is covered.

This will obviously be affected by the type of cover you have, whether it is buildings and contents insurance or contents only insurance. If you have the very cheapest insurance then there may be a limit as to what is covered. If you are making a claim under your contents insurance policy, such as stain damage to a carpet or accidental damage to television screen, there will probably be no need for an assessor to visit you at home. You may be able to complete the claim over the phone or the insurance company may send you a form that you need to fill in. They may also ask you for proof of purchase such as a receipt or invoice or even a bank statement to prove when you bought the item and how much you paid for it. This is why it can be very useful to keep receipts for valuable items or, if you don't have a receipt, taking photographs of expensive belongings can be a useful record if they are lost, stolen or damaged.

Some policies to not include accidental damage as standard so you will need to check your policy to ensure you are covered.

Read more in our home insurance guides or get a quote now.