Recent coverage in national media has highlighted something many households already recognise: making a home insurance claim can be harder than expected. Long waits for decisions, unclear updates and uncertainty over repair work have become familiar challenges for homeowners trying to recover from property damage.
Across Northern Ireland, the claims process follows a sequence that usually includes early reporting, steps to prevent further harm, an assessment, drying and stabilising the property, preparation of a repair scope and agreement of a settlement before reinstatement begins. Each stage has its own requirements, and delays at one point often affect everything that follows.
This series explains these stages in straightforward language, drawing on PCLA’s experience with claims across Northern Ireland and the patterns we see in real cases. Each article focuses on a different part of the process — from why claims have become more complex, to the reasons some cases stall, to what reinstatement actually involves in practice.
This hub gathers the full set of articles in one place so readers can move through the topics in a logical order and build a clear, accurate understanding of how a home insurance claim progresses.
Series Overview
Introduction
A clear summary of the national discussion and why PCLA created this series.
Read the article → Why So Many Home Insurance Claims Are Struggling
Part 1
A high-level explanation of the structural pressures affecting UK claims today, including reinstatement complexity, rising costs and the number of parties involved.
Read Part 1 → Why UK Home Insurance Claims Are Becoming Harder to Resolve
Part 2
A practical look at the behind-the-scenes steps that slow claims down, from drying cycles to communication chains.
Read Part 2 → The Hidden Reasons Claims Get Delayed
Part 3
A plain-English guide to the most common misunderstandings and evidence gaps that lead to declined claims.
Read Part 3 → Why Some Home Insurance Claims Are Rejected
Part 4
A data-led overview of Northern Ireland’s claims patterns across more than five years, including seasonal and regional trends.
Read Part 4 → NI Claims Data: What We See on the Ground
Part 5
Practical steps for staying organised, gathering evidence and maintaining momentum when a claim becomes stressful.
Read Part 5 → How Homeowners Can Regain Control of a Difficult Claim
Part 6
A clear explanation of what reinstatement involves, why it can become complex, and why the real scope of work is often larger than expected.
Read Part 6 → Understanding Reinstatement
Part 7
A step-by-step walkthrough of the full property claims process — rights, responsibilities and what to expect at each stage.
Read Part 7 → The Claims Process in Plain English
How to Use This Series
This series is designed for homeowners at any stage of the insurance journey:
- those beginning a claim and unsure where to start
- those already facing delays
- those seeking clarity about policy wording
- those preparing for reinstatement
- those trying to understand industry processes more generally
Each article can be read on its own, but together they form a straightforward guide to navigating home insurance claims with greater confidence.
