West London Mansion Block

When YourClaim were called to investigate water damaged floors in a second floor apartment of a stunning West London redbrick mansion block, the scale of the task soon became apparent. A mains water ‘push fitting’ positioned under a shower tray had separated on a third floor, four bedroom apartment. The leaseholder discovered this at 5am in the morning and we estimate the split pipe had released over 10,000 litres of water. Water had cascaded below through the recently refurbished apartment on the second floor, a further two apartments on the first floor and a further apartment on the ground floor. Five apartments in total. We swiftly validated a claim against the block management policy, sums insured were adequate and insurers instructed a major loss team from their chosen adjusting firm.

The Challenge – With a single block policy and five affected leaseholders it was imperative the claim and it’s restoration was centrally co-ordinated and project managed.  The leaseholders and block managers were obviously extremely concerned about the damage and the need for the claim to be centrally co-ordinated became clear. Your Claim appointed a dedicated major loss assessor and discussion began with the adjusters. Logistics of moving materials and possessions out and in up two and three storeys brought complication and risk to the programmed works.

The Solution – Due to our previous working relationship with the adjusting firm and the excellent dialogue YourClaim had developed, we felt it appropriate to table a non-competitive process and a negotiated settlement proposal, effectively an open-book partnering solution where risk and reward would be discussed and shared between insurers and the restoration company to speed things up. The adjuster agreed a competitive process would add delays where alternative accommodation and entire removals of personal possessions for two leaseholders would be required, for a significant period. We were able to save leaseholders and insurers time and cost under this collaborative working arrangement.

The Outcome – Repairs to the lower three properties were completed first to allow us to focus on the two larger more damaged apartments above. Following carefully planned removals, rehousing of the leaseholders, strip out was followed by stabilisation of the water damaged areas and newly engineered and solid oak herringbone parquet flooring were laid and fixed in place throughout. Followed by electrical and bathroom repairs and upgrades the second fix joinery was refitted using a bespoke architectural moulding pattern specific to the block at the time of it’s original construction in 1930. Furniture repairs were undertaken, fixtures were replaced and refitted, and a list of leaseholder additional requirements including a number of electrical upgrades before decorations and repatriation of contents and the leaseholders returned in good time to enjoy their newly refurbished and upgrade properties for the Christmas holidays.

A successful project innovatively negotiated and managed, expertly delivered.