Property Damage Tips

The following are some property damage tips & advice that may come in useful to you in the future.

Fire

• Install a smoke alarm in each room of your property.
• Do not overload electrical sockets.
• Keep all electrical cables away from cooker hobs and other heat sources.
• Never refuel or move a gas or oil heater while it is switched on.
• Never leave a burning candle unattended

Water & Flood Damage

• Regularly maintain all wearable parts in bathrooms such as shower/bath seals, grout to tiling etc.
• Insure all water tanks and pipes are properly lagged.
• Leaks from pipes in your floor can cause extensive damage with water travelling throughout the property before being noticed. Have any damage professionally surveyed by PCLA.
• Turn off your water supply if your property will be left vacant for a long period of time.
• Ensure all drains around your property are clear and regularly maintained.
• Soft furnishings, fabric, food and cosmetics will all be damaged by effluent from water. These will need to be professionally cleaned or replaced no matter what condition they appear to be in.

Learn more about flood damage.

Physical Risks

• Maintain trees near your property. These can cause damage during storms and also other issues such as subsidence and cracking to underground services
• Following a flood, people prone or vulnerable to infections should avoid the contaminated areas until clean-up has been completed.
• Check roofs following storms. Many people don’t realise their roof has been damaged until rainwater penetrates at a later date.

Structural Problems

• Within the first ten years of construction buildings typically settle into the ground. If you notice cracking after this or cracks getting wider contact PCLA for advice.
• Trees close to the property can lead to subsidence. If a risk think about having these removed.
• When purchasing a property have a full survey carried out to identify any issues. 

Insurance advice

• It’s important to disclose any major changes to your property.
• Always think about taking out accidental damage cover
• Most policies have conditions regarding matching of items with some now offering separate cover for this
• The cheapest insurance policy may not be the best. You can call PCLA for advice when taking out a policy.
• It is your duty to ensure your sum insured is correct. Insurers can apply average to any claim settlement where the sum insured is inadequate
• Most policies have exclusions for unoccupied premises
• Always review your insurance annually.

You can read some of our most frequently asked questions here.