When property damage affects a home, rental property or business premises in Oldham, Independent Loss Adjusters can provide policyholder-side support to help you understand the claim, organise the available evidence and make informed decisions as it progresses.
You may want guidance before submitting a new insurance claim, or you may already be dealing with a claim that has become delayed, disputed, rejected or underpaid. We help you establish what has happened, what the insurer is considering and what may still need clarification.
The appropriate claim position will depend on the individual policy wording, cause of damage, available evidence and circumstances.
Property claims can become more difficult when several questions are being dealt with at the same time.
Start by identifying:
If the cause of damage has not yet been established, keep your description factual rather than guessing. The claim can be updated as further reliable information becomes available.
An insurance company may appoint a loss adjuster to inspect the property, investigate the circumstances and assess the claim within the insurer’s claims process.
A policyholder can appoint their own loss assessor or independent loss adjuster support. When appropriately instructed, Independent Loss Adjusters provides support from the policyholder’s side of the claim.
Our guide to loss adjusters and independent support explains why understanding who appointed each professional can matter when reports, repairs and settlement proposals are being considered.
We support homeowners, landlords and businesses with a broad range of property insurance claims.
Each incident may need different evidence. However, the underlying approach remains the same: establish what happened, document the damage and consider the claim against the relevant policy wording.
Water damage can arise from a burst pipe, hidden leak, escape of water, flooding, roof problem or another source.
The first visible signs may not show the complete extent of the loss. Moisture can affect ceilings, walls, flooring, insulation, fitted units and contents.
Our water damage insurance claim guidance explains why the source, drying requirements, hidden moisture and permanent reinstatement may need separate consideration.
Keep any drying reports, moisture information and contractor observations that help explain the extent of the damage.
A fire claim can involve smoke, soot, heat, damaged contents, water used during firefighting and reinstatement as well as the area directly affected by flames.
Storm claims may involve roofs, chimneys, walls, windows or water entering the building. Where weather is relevant, the event should be considered alongside the condition of the affected property and the policy wording.
Impact damage can result from a vehicle, falling object or another collision. Record the wider affected area rather than only the first obvious point of impact.
The repair requirements for each type of damage should be supported by appropriate evidence rather than assumptions about what work will automatically be covered.
Theft claims can require additional information because missing items are no longer available for inspection.
Depending on the circumstances, receipts, photographs, bank records, valuations or other information may help establish ownership and value.
Where deliberate damage or vandalism has affected the property, keep photographs and any police or incident reference that has been provided.
Building damage and missing contents should be recorded separately where practical so that each part of the claim can be assessed clearly.
A proposed settlement is easier to assess when the work behind it is clear.
Check which damaged rooms, structures, materials and items have been included. Also identify any excesses, limits, deductions or assumptions affecting the proposed amount.
If an insurer’s assessment differs from a contractor’s estimate, compare the underlying work rather than only the final totals.
Different quantities, specifications, access requirements or omitted items can explain why figures vary. A difference in price alone does not establish that either assessment is incorrect.
Our guide to reviewing an insurance settlement offer provides further practical points to consider before responding to a proposed figure.
Some insurance claims require closer investigation. The insurer may request additional documents, ask more detailed questions or appoint an investigator.
This does not automatically mean that the claim will be rejected. However, information should be accurate and consistent, and supporting evidence should be provided where appropriate.
Our insurance investigator guide for policyholders explains some of the issues that can arise when an insurer is carrying out a more detailed review.
If you do not know the answer to a question, avoid guessing. It can be better to explain what is known and provide further information when it becomes available.
An insurer may sometimes question whether damage resulted from a sudden insured event or developed gradually through wear, deterioration or another pre-existing issue.
If this happens, identify exactly which damage is being questioned and which policy wording the insurer is relying on.
The presence of wear or deterioration does not by itself explain every part of a loss. Equally, an insured incident does not automatically mean that unrelated pre-existing damage forms part of the claim.
The cause, chronology, condition of the property and available technical evidence may all be relevant.
We support landlords, buy-to-let owners and other rental-property policyholders as well as homeowners.
A landlord claim may involve building repairs, landlord-owned fixtures, access arrangements and loss of rent where relevant cover applies.
Keep tenant-owned belongings separate from the landlord’s insured loss. Where managing agents, tenants or contractors are involved, it is also useful to establish who can authorise work and communicate with the insurer.
Property damage can affect business premises, stock, machinery, fixtures or equipment. An insured incident may also interrupt normal trading.
Our business insurance claim support can help commercial policyholders organise the physical damage, relevant policy information and supporting evidence.
Where business interruption cover may apply, keep financial losses separate from the physical property repair costs. The available cover will depend on the individual commercial policy and circumstances.
A disagreement about one issue does not necessarily mean that the entire insurance claim is disputed.
An insurer may accept that an incident occurred but question a particular repair item, valuation, cause of damage or part of the claimed loss.
Keep a record of what has been agreed and what remains outstanding. Where appropriate, ask for important decisions and relevant policy wording in writing.
This can help focus further evidence or questions on the specific matter that still needs resolving.
If an insurer rejects all or part of a claim, first identify the precise reason for the decision and the policy wording being relied on.
Our rejected insurance claim decision guide explains how to compare the insurer’s stated reason with the policy wording, chronology and available evidence.
A rejection does not automatically mean that the insurer is wrong. However, understanding the reasoning can help you decide whether clarification, additional evidence or a complaint may be appropriate.
You can make a complaint to your insurer yourself without appointing Independent Loss Adjusters.
If an eligible complaint remains unresolved after the insurer’s complaints process, you may also be able to refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service yourself free of charge.
The Financial Ombudsman Service guidance on home insurance complaints provides independent general information about insurance disputes and the complaint process.
If you ask us to review the insurance claim itself, our role and any applicable fee will be explained separately before you decide whether to appoint us.
We support homeowners, landlords and businesses across Oldham, including the town centre, Coldhurst, St Mary’s, Waterhead, Werneth and nearby Oldham addresses.
The area contains homes, rental properties and commercial premises with different ages, construction types and uses. Therefore, the appropriate claim response will depend on the individual property, cause of damage, policy wording and available evidence.
If your property is outside Oldham itself, we can confirm whether it falls within our wider operational service area when you contact us.
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.
If you choose an ILA-recommended contractor to undertake reinstatement work, the contractor may cover the Independent Loss Adjuster’s fee for the proportion of the 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.
Can you help before I submit a new insurance claim?
Yes. We can provide initial guidance about the damage, policy information and evidence that may be useful. You should still comply with any claim-notification requirements in your policy.
What if my insurer says the damage is wear and tear?
We can review the insurer’s explanation, policy wording and available evidence. Wear, deterioration and insured damage may need to be distinguished carefully rather than assuming that one explanation automatically applies to everything.
Can you help if my insurer is investigating the claim?
Yes. We can review the current position and available information and help you understand what may be relevant to the insurer’s questions.
Can you help landlords and businesses?
Yes. We support homeowners, landlords and commercial policyholders. The assistance required will depend on the policy, damage and current stage of the claim.
What if the insurer has already made a settlement offer?
We can review the documented damage, proposed repair scope and available estimates and help you understand what the settlement appears to include.
If you are dealing with property damage in Oldham, you can ask for help whether the claim is new, ongoing, delayed, disputed, rejected or underpaid.
For free, no-obligation initial insurance claim advice, request a callback from Independent Loss Adjusters or call 0800 002 5178. We can discuss the current position and explain whether our service may be suitable for your claim.
Get Clear Initial Advice Before You Decide What To Do Next
If your property insurance claim has become delayed, disputed, underpaid or difficult to manage, you can ask Independent Loss Adjusters for clear initial advice before deciding what to do next.
Call 0800 002 5178
Our insurance claim support covers a wide range of property damage claims, from initial claim assessment through to evidence review, negotiation and settlement discussions.
Clear Claim Support, In Our Clients’ Words
Property insurance claims can quickly become confusing when there are delays, unclear decisions or disagreements over the settlement. These testimonials show how Independent Loss Adjusters has helped clients feel better informed, better supported and more in control of the claim process.
“Glenn and Sue were very professional throughout and helped me win my claim against Zurich insurance for a bathroom leak. They arranged everything and kept me updated throughout.”
“Extremely professional, reassuring whilst giving a wonderful, friendly service during a personally difficult time. Very thorough in the site assessment and good follow-up.”
“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.”
“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.”
“After having a claim rejected for a fallen tree on our house, I had given up all hope of getting anywhere! However, Chris was extremely helpful in fighting this for us and taking to the Financial Ombudsman to get it overturned and payment made.”
“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.
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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