The first thing to remember is that not all policies will cover all damage caused by fires.
We have been involved in cases where insurers have covered damage caused by fire itself but tried to avoid paying for damage caused by scorch (that is, the heat of the fire).
Also, we have seen insurers pay for damage caused by fire but attempt to avoid paying for water damaged caused by the insured person trying to put out the fire.
All policies require that the insured person maintains their home in a reasonable state and insurers will not pay out on claims which are caused by an insured person’s failure to maintain a property.
Following fire damage, disputes can often break out about the extent of the damage caused by the fire. For example, if an insurer decides that a property was in poor condition or damaged prior to the fire, they may decline some, or all of the claim.
It is also important to note that some insurance policies do not cover damage caused by intentional acts. This can be the intentional acts of the property owner, another resident or any third party.
If your insurer decides that the cause of your fire is not covered under your insurance policy or that the value to replace your home and contents is less than the actual value, you have appeal options and you should get in touch with us to pursue your rights.