Flood water has got into your property from the outside, and you’re not yet sure how far it’s spread.
Water through the garden, the driveway, or against the walls of your home can affect far more than what’s immediately visible — the ground beneath patios, subfloors, boundary structures, and areas you can’t fully assess yourself. On top of that, you’re facing an insurance claim, often for the first time.
PCLA helps homeowners across Northern Ireland prepare, evidence and negotiate flood damage insurance claims. We act for you, not the insurer, so the full extent of the damage is properly assessed from the start.
Thinking about making a claim? Speak to PCLA first. A short call costs nothing.
Flood is a standard insured peril under most home buildings insurance policies in the UK, though what’s covered depends on your specific policy wording. Flood damage is rarely confined to the house itself — gardens, driveways, boundary fencing, garages and other external structures are usually part of the same insured property and can form part of the same claim, along with hidden damage beneath patios, floors and foundations that isn’t visible without investigation.
For a full explanation of what’s covered, the difference between flood and escape of water, and how buildings and contents cover work together, see our flood damage claim guide. This page explains how PCLA handles the claim for you.
Your insurer may appoint a loss adjuster to assess the claim on their behalf. A loss assessor works for you. Our job is to make sure your flood damage claim is properly prepared from the start.
Tell us what happened and where the claim stands. We’ll give you an honest view of whether a loss assessor is likely to help.
We inspect the property in person and review your policy. We identify the full extent of the flood damage — including external areas such as gardens, garages, driveways and boundaries, and anywhere that needs further investigation, such as subfloors or foundations.
We document the damage with photographs, technical reports and a detailed schedule of affected areas. Where further investigation is needed, we arrange it and make sure the findings are properly recorded as part of the claim.
We handle all correspondence with your insurer and their appointed loss adjuster, address any disputes over scope, and negotiate the settlement on your behalf.
Once settlement is agreed, you receive the funds and can move forward with drying, repairs and reinstatement.
A homeowner in Newcastle discovered significant flood damage affecting their property following extensive water ingress. The flooding caused substantial damage to the garage, external wall, patio area, driveway, rear fencing and side fencing.
The policyholder acted quickly and successfully kept floodwater out of the main dwelling — but the extent of the flooding meant a subfloor investigation was also needed to confirm the property’s foundations hadn’t been further affected.
PCLA were appointed to manage the claim. Assessor Greg Smyth assessed the full extent of the damage and arranged the subfloor investigation, managing all communication with the insurer and their loss adjusters throughout.
“Had a bad flood and really didn’t know what to do. A friend recommended PCLA. From start to finish Greg looked after everything. PCLA will be my 1st call if anything like this happens again. 1st class.”
★★★★★Case details shared with the permission of the policyholder.
If flood water has affected your home, garden, garage or driveway, we manage the claim so you don’t have to.
Flood damage at a rental property adds loss of rent and tenant rehousing to the mix, alongside building and contents damage. We handle the claim end to end.
As in the Newcastle case, flood damage often affects the garage, garden, driveway, patio and fencing before, or even instead of, the main house.
The Newcastle case shows this isn’t necessarily true — the claim still settled at over £40,000 despite the house itself being protected.
Flood water doesn’t stay where it’s first visible, and can affect ground beneath patios, driveways and floor structures.
Northern Ireland Water is responsible for the public sewerage network, and the Department for Infrastructure (Rivers) has responsibility for designated watercourses. Where flooding is linked to either, whether your policy responds depends on the policy wording.
Towns and rural areas near the coast or rivers, including parts of Co. Down, can be more exposed to flooding — a relevant factor in how flooding occurred, not a reason claims are treated differently.
Effective drying after a flood takes longer than most homeowners expect, often weeks. Moving forward with reinstatement before drying is properly completed risks trapped damp.
After a flood, insurers sometimes offer a cash settlement to close the claim quickly. A cash offer can be the right outcome, but only if it reflects the full cost of drying, reinstatement and any subfloor or structural work needed.
Once you accept a settlement, it’s hard to reopen the claim if further damage comes to light. Before you accept any offer, speak to us — a short call costs nothing.
A denial or reduced offer isn’t always final. Common reasons insurers decline or reduce flood claims include disputes over whether the water ingress meets the policy’s definition of flood, gradual-seepage arguments, or missing evidence of external damage. Our flood damage claim guide covers denial reasons in full. If your claim has been declined or reduced, speak to us before accepting the outcome.
There are two moments to speak to us.
Appointing PCLA before your insurer’s loss adjuster visits gives us the chance to carry out our own inspection first. This is the strongest position to start from.
If your insurer has already inspected and made an offer, you don’t have to accept it straight away. A settlement isn’t final until you’ve agreed it.
If you’ve protected the house but the garden, driveway or outbuildings are damaged, don’t assume it’s too small to claim for — as the Newcastle case shows, external damage can form a substantial part of a flood claim.
No-win, no-fee loss-assessing services are available for most domestic property damage claims. PCLA’s standard fee is 10% of the settlement plus VAT. The rate on an individual claim can be higher or lower depending on its size and complexity, and your exact fee is agreed with you in writing before you appoint us.
There is no upfront cost, and there is no obligation from an initial call.
Possibly, yes. The Newcastle case involved a homeowner who kept floodwater out of the main dwelling, but the claim still covered substantial damage to the garage, external wall, patio, driveway and fencing, plus a subfloor investigation, and settled at over £40,000.
Where flooding has been significant, water can affect ground beneath patios, driveways or floor structures in ways that aren’t visible from the surface. A further investigation establishes whether there’s any impact.
A loss adjuster is appointed and paid by your insurer. A loss assessor, such as PCLA, is appointed by, and acts for, the homeowner. See our guide to the difference between a loss assessor and a loss adjuster.
PCLA covers Belfast and across Northern Ireland, including Co. Down. Call 028 9581 5318 if you’re unsure whether we cover your area.
No. No ethical claims company should guarantee an outcome. We make sure your claim is properly evidenced, costed and negotiated so the settlement reflects the true scope of the damage.
For coverage details, the claims process, drying and temporary accommodation, and a full denial-reasons breakdown, see our flood damage claim guide.
Over 270 homeowners across Northern Ireland and Scotland have rated PCLA five stars for taking the stress out of their insurance claims.
If flood damage has affected your home, including the garden, garage, driveway or boundaries, PCLA gives you your own independent expert before the claim begins.
No Win, No Fee. PCLA’s standard fee is 10% of the settlement plus VAT, agreed with you in writing before you appoint us. No upfront cost. No obligation from an initial call.
Tell us what happened and we’ll be in touch.
No obligation from an initial call.
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In August 2020 storm Francis hit the UK causing a lot of damage to property throughout the country. Particularly affected was Newcastle, Co. Down.
