If property damage has affected your home, rental property or business in Liverpool, Independent Loss Adjusters can help when the cause or resulting damage involves an adjoining property, another flat or a shared part of the building. It is important to separate where the problem started from the damage that has actually affected your own insured property.
We act for the policyholder rather than the insurer. If you need independent loss adjuster and loss assessor support, we can help you review the available evidence, policy position and outstanding questions before important claim decisions are made.
When an incident involves more than one property, the whole situation can quickly become difficult to follow.
Start by recording what has happened within your own home, rental property or business premises. Depending on the circumstances, note:
You do not need to establish legal responsibility before recording and reporting the damage. The first task is to create a clear evidence trail for your own claim.
An insurer may appoint a loss adjuster to investigate and assess the claim within its claims process.
A policyholder can appoint their own representative to help prepare and progress the claim. Therefore, the important question is who made the appointment and whose position that professional is engaged to represent.
Our guide to independent representation during an insurance claim explains appointment, accountability and why a professional title alone does not tell you who someone represents.
A problem may begin in one property but cause damage somewhere else.
For example, water may escape from plumbing in an adjoining home or flat and affect ceilings, walls, flooring or contents in another property. Smoke or water from firefighting may also travel beyond the room or premises where a fire started.
Record what is known about the source separately from the resulting damage to your property. If the source has not been confirmed, avoid presenting an assumption as a fact.
If damage appears to have originated next door, that does not by itself establish which insurer should pay or whether another person is legally responsible.
Your own buildings or contents policy may still need to be considered against the circumstances and wording. Any separate question about another property owner’s responsibility can then be considered on its own facts.
The Financial Ombudsman Service provides independent guidance on water and flood damage, including situations where water originates from a neighbouring property.
In terraced, semi-detached or converted property, the affected area may sit beside a party wall, adjoining roof, shared chimney or another building element close to the boundary.
Record which part of your property is damaged and whether inspection of an adjoining area may provide useful information about the cause or extent of the problem.
Do not assume that a shared or adjoining structure automatically makes every repair the responsibility of one owner or insurer. Ownership, policy wording, the cause of damage and any relevant legal responsibility may need separate consideration.
An escape of water in a block of flats may involve the source of the leak, damage to the building, damage to individual belongings and responsibility for different parts of the property.
Keep those questions separate. Establish what is damaged within your insured interest, which policy may apply and what evidence is available.
Our guidance on escape of water insurance claims explains some of the evidence, drying and reinstatement issues that may need consideration.
The first inspection may not reveal the full extent of damage.
Water can travel beneath floors, through ceilings and behind finishes. Smoke, soot or moisture may also affect adjoining rooms or areas that initially appear unaffected.
If additional damage becomes apparent during drying, investigation or careful opening-up, update the photographs, reports and repair information. This helps distinguish newly identified damage from information that was already available earlier in the claim.
We support policyholders across Liverpool city centre and areas including Anfield, Everton, Kirkdale, Vauxhall, Kensington, Tuebrook, Wavertree, Toxteth, Aigburth, Mossley Hill, Allerton, West Derby, Old Swan, Childwall, Woolton, Garston and Speke.
The city includes terraced homes, flats, converted property, rental accommodation, shops, offices and mixed-use premises. As a result, property boundaries, ownership and insurance arrangements can differ considerably between individual claims.
Property type or location does not itself determine insurance cover or responsibility. The relevant policy wording, cause of damage, ownership and available evidence still need to be considered.
If you are a landlord or buy-to-let owner, record the damage to your insured building and any landlord-owned fixtures or contents separately from belongings owned by the tenant.
If another property or tenant is thought to be connected with the cause, avoid assuming responsibility before the evidence is clear.
Where loss of rent or another financial loss is also being considered, keep that evidence separate from the physical property damage. Whether it is covered will depend on the policy wording, limits and circumstances.
For a Liverpool business, an incident in one commercial unit may affect neighbouring stock, equipment, access or trading.
Keep the physical property loss separate from any financial effect on the business. Where relevant business interruption cover applies, those financial consequences normally require different supporting evidence from the building or contents repairs.
Our business interruption claim guidance explains some of the policy terms, financial records and calculations that may need consideration.
You do not need to have contacted Independent Loss Adjusters when the incident first occurred.
If insurers, neighbours, landlords, managing agents or contractors are already involved, gather the latest photographs, reports, correspondence and policy information. Then identify which facts have been established and which questions remain unresolved.
Our guidance on policyholder-side support with an existing insurance claim explains what information may be useful before deciding whether further professional assistance is appropriate.
Ask for the insurer’s decision and reasons in writing.
If the rejection relates to where the damage originated, responsibility for another property or whether a particular insured event occurred, identify the exact policy wording, facts and evidence relied upon.
A rejection does not automatically mean the insurer’s decision is wrong. However, understanding the precise reason gives you a clearer basis for deciding whether further evidence, clarification, a complaint or professional assistance may be appropriate.
Our rejected insurance claim checklist explains what to review before deciding how to respond.
We provide free, no-obligation initial insurance claim advice.
Where Independent Loss Adjusters manages and negotiates the claim, our standard fee is 10% plus VAT of the relevant settlement amount.
Where you choose an ILA-recommended contractor to undertake reinstatement work, the contractor may cover Independent Loss Adjusters’ fee for the proportion of work they complete.
However, you remain free to appoint your own contractor.
We will confirm the applicable fee and scope of service before you decide whether to appoint Independent Loss Adjusters.
What if a leak from next door has damaged my home?
Record the damage to your property and the apparent source if it is known. Check your own policy rather than assuming that the neighbouring owner or their insurer must automatically deal with every part of the loss.
What if I cannot get access to the adjoining property?
Record the evidence available from your own property and tell the insurer what remains unknown. Further investigation may be needed before the cause can be established.
What if damage affects a party wall or shared area?
Identify the damaged structure, ownership position and available evidence. Insurance cover and legal responsibility are separate questions and will depend on the circumstances.
Can you help after my Liverpool claim has already started?
Potentially, yes. We can discuss the stage reached, review the available information and explain whether our service may be suitable.
If damage involves an adjoining property, shared structure or another party and the insurance position is difficult to understand, you can request free, no-obligation initial claim advice.
Tell us what has happened and which parts of the claim remain unclear. We can then discuss whether Independent Loss Adjusters can assist.
You can also call 0800 002 5178.
Get Clear Initial Advice Before You Decide What To Do Next
If your property insurance claim is new, already underway or difficult to understand, you can ask Independent Loss Adjusters for clear initial advice before deciding what to do next.
Call 0800 002 5178
Feedback From Clients Who Needed Claim Support
When your property claim feels uncertain, it can help to hear from people who have already been through the process. These testimonials show how Independent Loss Adjusters has helped clients deal with insurers, evidence, delays, settlement concerns and the practical steps needed to move a claim forward.
“ILA provided a prompt, professional assessment for a complex situation. Michael and Emma were clear, responsive, and took great care to ensure the report addressed all relevant technical factors.”
“Independent Loss Adjusters team Glenn Weatherall and Sue Young have been the most helpful and dedicated team working on our behalf during what was a very difficult insurance claim. They are one of my most very professional company I have ever had the pleasure to work with.”
“We had a very complex insurance claim which Michael and his team worked tirelessly to resolve. We had zero experience in dealing with insurance companies and we would have been lost without them.”
“Extremely professional, reassuring whilst giving a wonderful, friendly service during a personally difficult time. Very thorough in the site assessment and good follow-up.”
“Michael is an experienced generous expert in his field. He clearly works very hard for his clients & uses his extensive experience to steer towards the best outcome.”
“Michael dealt with our case in such a very professional manner, providing excellent advice and valued assistance. What really mattered here was Michael had a real connection to us, offering true empathy to our case and real sincere desire to help us to the best of his ability.”
These testimonials describe individual clients’ experiences. Outcomes depend on the policy wording, evidence and circumstances of each claim.
Need Help With Your Own Claim?
Get free initial insurance claim advice from one of our experts.
Speak To ILA About Your Claim
ILA supports policyholders across the UK with property insurance claims. Whether the claim involves a home, business premises or rental property, our loss adjusting team can review the position, explain the evidence needed and help you decide the next step.
Our insurance claim support covers a wide range of property damage claims, from initial claim assessment through to evidence review, negotiation and settlement discussions.
What Happens After You Request a Callback?
A member of the ILA team will review the information you provide and contact you during normal working hours. We will ask a few initial questions about the damage, the policy and the current position of the claim. You do not need to have every document ready before speaking to us.
For urgent claim enquiries, call 0800 002 5178.
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