A property damage claim can quickly become stressful when you’re expected to prove the damage, understand the policy wording, and respond to your insurer’s loss adjuster.
PCLA acts for you, the policyholder. We assess the damage, gather the evidence, and negotiate with your insurer on your behalf, so you have independent claims support before you make a claim or before you accept a settlement.
We support homeowners, landlords, and commercial property owners with building damage and related insurance claims.
Call 028 9581 5318 (NI) or 0141 461 2406 (Scotland). Free initial call, no pressure, no obligation.
PCLA is appointed by you, not your insurer. That means our only job is to represent your interests, from the first inspection through to the final settlement. Your insurer will typically appoint their own loss adjuster to assess your claim on their behalf; PCLA works alongside that process on your side, so you have someone with equivalent expertise looking after your interests too.
Our qualified building surveyors inspect the damage and interpret your policy wording, so you understand what may be covered before you speak to your insurer.
We compile detailed photographic and written evidence and the costs involved, so you don't need to source builders' quotes yourself.
We deal directly with your insurer's loss adjuster on your behalf, aiming to secure the settlement you may be entitled to under the terms of your policy.
Concrete slab hot water pipe leak, settled.
Lounge fire and smoke damage, settled.
Storm tree strike, settled.
Most policyholders only deal with a major property claim once or twice in their lives. Insurers deal with them every day.
That imbalance can make the process difficult. You may be asked for evidence you do not know how to prepare, costs may be challenged, policy wording may be unclear, and the insurer’s loss adjuster is appointed to assess the claim on the insurer’s behalf.
PCLA gives you your own independent claims expert. We help clarify what may be covered, document the damage properly, and handle the negotiation so the claim is presented clearly from the start.
In Northern Ireland and across the Central Belt of Scotland, older housing stock, rural properties, and shared-title tenement buildings can all add complications a standard claims process doesn’t account for.
In Scotland, tenement and common-close properties bring an added layer: under the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004, responsibility for shared parts of a building, such as roofs, common closes, and shared pipework, is typically split between owners under the tenement’s title deeds or the Act’s default rules. After water damage or another insured event, working out who is responsible for what, and how that interacts with each owner’s own buildings insurance, can be genuinely complicated. An independent loss assessor’s job is to work through these complications for you.
A Loss Assessor is an independent insurance claims expert who works for you, the policyholder, not the insurance company, managing your claim from start to finish. Read our full guide: What Does a Loss Assessor Do? for a complete breakdown of the role.
From your first call, PCLA surveys the damage, compiles the evidence your claim needs, and negotiates directly with your insurer on your behalf, keeping you informed until the settlement is paid. See What Happens When You Appoint PCLA as Your Loss Assessor for the full step-by-step process.
A loss assessor is appointed by and works for you; a loss adjuster is appointed by and works for your insurer. It’s a common misunderstanding that the insurer’s loss adjuster is acting for you, they aren’t.
| Loss Assessor | Loss Adjuster | |
|---|---|---|
| Represents | Policyholder | Insurance company |
| Appointed by | Policyholder | Insurance company |
| Paid by | Policyholder, on a no win, no fee basis | Insurance company |
| Primary goal | Help the policyholder receive what they may be entitled to under their policy | Evaluate and assess the validity of the claim |
| Independence | Independent of the insurer, works for the policyholder | Employed or contracted by the insurance company |
Read our full comparison: Loss Assessor vs Loss Adjuster vs Broker for more detail, including how PCLA works alongside your insurer’s loss adjuster without delaying your claim.
PCLA supports homeowners, landlords, and commercial property owners across a range of property damage claims.
A loss assessor tends to add the most value on larger, more complex, or disputed claims. For smaller, straightforward claims, you may be able to deal with your insurer directly. Read our guide: Do I Need a Loss Assessor for My Home Insurance Claim? to work out which applies to you, or get in touch and we’ll give you an honest view.
Read our claim guides for more detail on what’s typically covered for each claim type, or speak to us directly about your situation.
The earlier you speak to us, the more we can do.
Contact PCLA before you make your claim for full support from first inspection through to settlement.
If you’ve already started your claim and it’s stalled or the offer feels low, you can still contact us before you settle; we may be able to review the position and negotiate on your behalf. If your claim has already been settled, there’s unfortunately little we’re able to do at that stage.
We work on a no win, no fee basis: there's no upfront cost to appoint us, and if we're unable to improve your position, you don't pay a fee. Your initial call with us is free and without obligation. Full details of our fee structure are available on request.
Over 270 homeowners across Northern Ireland and Scotland have rated PCLA five stars for taking the stress out of their insurance claims.
A loss assessor works for you, the policyholder. Your insurer will typically appoint its own loss adjuster to represent its interests; PCLA is appointed by you and represents yours.
You’re not required to use one. Some homeowners deal with straightforward claims themselves. A loss assessor tends to help most on larger, more complex, or disputed claims.
We work on a no win, no fee basis, with a free, no-obligation initial call. Get in touch for details of our fee structure for your specific claim.
Not typically. We aim to progress your claim promptly and can usually arrange a property survey within 24 hours of first contact.
If you haven’t yet settled, contact us before you settle; we may be able to review your position. Once a claim is fully settled, there’s limited scope for us to assist.
We currently assist clients across Northern Ireland and the Central Belt of Scotland. Let us know your property location when you get in touch and we’ll confirm whether we can help.
No pressure, no obligation, just clear advice on where you stand.
No win, no fee · FCA regulated, FRN 933781 · Free initial call
Tell us where your claim stands and we’ll be in touch. A short call costs nothing.
PCLA operates from offices in Belfast and Glasgow, supporting clients across:
Glasgow, Edinburgh, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, Stirling, and the wider Central Belt
With offices located in Belfast and Glasgow, we serve clients across Northern Ireland and Scotland. Our understanding of the legal and regulatory landscapes in these regions ensures you receive a service that is both personalised and effective.