Loss Assessors · Northern Ireland & Scotland
Landlord Insurance Claims: Loss Assessors for Landlords in Northern Ireland and Scotland
A fire, a burst pipe or a storm at a rental property is not just a repair job. It is lost rent, a tenant who needs somewhere to go, contractors to organise and an insurer asking for evidence you were never told to keep, all while the property earns nothing.
PCLA are independent loss assessors. We act solely for policyholders, not insurers. We assess the damage, evidence the claim, manage the process and negotiate the settlement, so your claim reflects the full extent of the loss rather than the parts that happen to be easiest to see.
We act for landlords across Northern Ireland and Scotland, from a single buy-to-let upwards, including houses in multiple occupation.
The earlier you call, the more we can do. Tell us what happened, which property is affected and whether you have notified your insurer yet.
Why a landlord claim is not the same as a homeowner claim
Most claims advice is written for someone claiming on the house they live in. A landlord claim works differently in ways that decide how much is paid.
You are not there.
Damage at your own home is found in minutes. Damage at a let property is found by a tenant who may report it late, describe it inaccurately, or not report it at all until it is serious. Insurers routinely argue that damage found late developed gradually, and gradual damage is excluded under most policies.
Your loss includes income, not just building damage.
If the property cannot be let while it is repaired, the rent stops. Whether you recover it depends on a section of the policy most landlords have never read.
Someone else lives in it.
Tenants have belongings, rights and somewhere to be during repairs. Their contents are not yours, and the responsibility split between you and them is set by the tenancy agreement, not the policy.
Your policy carries conditions a homeowner policy does not.
Unoccupancy conditions in particular. They are the most common reason a landlord claim is declined, and most landlords do not know they exist until one is quoted at them.
Unoccupancy: the condition that declines landlord claims
Almost every landlord policy limits cover when a property is left unoccupied beyond a set period, commonly 30, 45 or 60 consecutive days. Void periods between tenancies, a refurbishment, a tenant who moved out early, or a property waiting on probate can all cross that line without anyone noticing.
Once the property is treated as unoccupied, the policy usually changes in three ways at once:
- 01 Escape of water, theft and malicious damage cover may be reduced or removed entirely.
- 02 Additional conditions apply: heating left on at a minimum temperature over winter, water drained down, inspections at set intervals and recorded.
- 03 The insurer may need to have been notified in writing.
Where the arguments actually happen
The clock.
When did the property genuinely become unoccupied? A tenancy that formally ended is not always the date the property was empty, and part-occupied is not unoccupied.
Whether the breach caused the loss.
A property one week past its unoccupancy limit that suffers storm damage to a roof has a breach with no connection to the damage. That is an argument worth making, not conceding.
What the inspection condition actually required.
Conditions often say less than the insurer's decline letter implies. Read the wording, not the summary.
What was actually notified.
If you told your agent, or told the insurer by phone, that may matter.
If you have a property standing empty right now, the useful action is to check the unoccupancy clause on your policy today, before anything happens. It is a five-minute job that prevents the most common landlord decline there is.
Loss of rent and alternative accommodation
Where insured damage makes the property unfit to let or occupy, most landlord policies include loss of rent cover. It is usually expressed as a percentage of the sum insured or a fixed amount, and it runs for a defined indemnity period, commonly 12 or 24 months, starting from the date of the damage rather than from when repairs begin.
That start date matters more than anything else in this section. Every week lost to arguing about the repair scope is a week of the indemnity period spent, and it does not extend because the claim was slow.
To evidence a loss of rent claim you will need the tenancy agreement, rent statements or payment records, evidence of occupancy before the damage, and a defensible position on the period the property could not reasonably be let. Where the property was empty at the time of the damage, cover is harder but not always absent, and the wording decides it.
Some policies also cover alternative accommodation for the tenant. Whether that obligation sits with you or with the tenant's own contents insurer depends on the tenancy agreement and the policies in play, and it is worth establishing early rather than after you have paid for a hotel.
Tenant damage, malicious damage and what is actually covered
This is where landlord policies differ most from each other, and where assumptions get expensive.
- Accidental damage by a tenant
- is often covered only if you bought accidental damage as an extension.
- Malicious damage by a tenant
- is excluded by a significant number of policies, and covered by others only where it is reported to the police and a crime reference obtained. If you suspect deliberate damage, get the police report before you do anything else. Without it, the claim frequently fails on evidence rather than on cover.
- Theft by a tenant or their visitors
- is commonly excluded or heavily restricted.
- Wear, tear and neglect
- are never covered, and insurers argue this line hard on tenant-damage claims. The distinction between a tenant damaging something and a tenant failing to look after it is where the money is.
- Damage found at the end of a tenancy
- raises the question of when it happened, which returns to the gradual-damage argument. Inventories, check-in and check-out reports and dated photographs are what answer it.
Declined and disputed landlord claims
The reason in the decline letter determines what happens next, and it is not always the real reason.
The arguments that come up most often on landlord claims:
Gradual damage or wear and tear.
The most common decline of all, and the one most tied to nobody living in the property. Answered with the trigger event, dated evidence and, on water claims, a leak detection report. Our guide to trace and access cover covers who pays to find a hidden leak.
Breach of an unoccupancy condition.
See the section above. Frequently arguable on the dates, on causation, or on what the condition actually required.
Tenant damage falling outside cover.
Turns on how the damage is characterised and what evidence exists.
Non-disclosure.
Typically the letting status itself: a property let on a policy arranged for an owner-occupier, a change to a student or DSS let, or a switch to an HMO without telling the insurer.
Underinsurance.
The sum insured is below the true rebuild cost, so the settlement is reduced proportionally by the average clause. Common on older properties, and wherever the sum insured was set years ago and never revisited.
Late notification.
Reported outside the policy's notification period, often because the tenant told you late.
If a claim has been declined: get the reasons in writing with the specific policy wording relied on, preserve the damage and the records, and answer the stated reason with targeted evidence rather than general argument. If that does not resolve it, use the insurer's internal complaints process and ask for a final response. Individual landlords, and smaller landlord businesses meeting the eligibility criteria, may then be able to refer the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service, normally within six months of that final response.
We cannot promise that a declined claim can be overturned, and any firm that tells you otherwise should be treated with caution.
The earlier you involve us, the more we can do. The best time to call is before you notify your insurer, or before you accept a settlement figure, while the evidence and the scope of the claim can still be shaped.
Landlord claims we handle
Escape of water and flooding.
Burst pipes, failed plumbing, leaking appliances and water ingress. The visible damage is usually only part of it, since moisture travels through concealed areas and affects flooring, electrics and adjoining rooms. See our escape of water claim guide.
Fire and smoke damage.
Direct fire damage plus smoke contamination, water damage from firefighting and the wider reinstatement that follows. See our fire damage claim guide.
Storm and impact damage.
Roofs, windows, outbuildings, boundary walls and the internal damage that follows. Maintenance history is examined closely on roof claims.
Theft and malicious damage.
Break-ins at let or void properties, vandalism and deliberate damage.
Loss of rent and alternative accommodation.
Covered above.
Houses in multiple occupation.
We work with HMO landlords. HMOs carry licensing, fire safety and inspection obligations that a standard let does not, and insurers examine those conditions closely when a claim is made.
Working alongside a managing agent.
If an agent handles the property, we can work with them directly so you are not relaying information between two parties.
What we do
- 1
Assess the damage.
We inspect the property, establish what has actually been affected including what is not yet visible, and identify what the policy responds to.
- 2
Evidence the claim.
We organise the evidence: photographs, the cause of damage, contractor and specialist reports, repair estimates, tenancy agreements, rent records, maintenance and inspection history, and correspondence with the insurer. Where the claim needs it, we document the scope of damage and prepare or review the schedule of works.
- 3
Manage the process.
We deal with the insurer, its loss adjuster, your managing agent and the contractors, attend site meetings and keep the claim moving.
- 4
Negotiate the settlement.
We review any offer against the documented loss and the policy terms before it is accepted. The insurer makes the final decision on policy cover; our job is to make sure what it decides on is complete.
How we work with you
One assessor on your claim.
Every case is handled by its own loss assessor, with a senior assessor overseeing where the claim needs it.
We attend site.
Damage assessments, surveys, structural damage surveys and meetings with the insurer or its loss adjuster, across Northern Ireland and Scotland.
You are kept informed.
At least weekly, and usually more often, since the pace is set by meetings, reports and the insurer.
Specialists when the claim needs them.
Surveyors, engineers, leak detection specialists and restoration contractors, appointed according to the loss. We use recognised professionals in their field.
No charge to find out where you stand.
There is no fee for the initial review or for the site inspection. Our fee applies only if and when the claim settles, and it is explained in full before you appoint us. See Fees for the full fee statement.
Where our involvement ends.
We take the claim through to settlement. Once the claim is settled, our role is complete and the repairs are yours to arrange, so you are not tied to us or to any contractor afterwards.
What to do now, before you claim
- 1
Make it safe and stop it getting worse. You are expected to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. Keep every invoice and photograph.
- 2
Photograph everything before anything is moved or cleaned, including the areas you think are undamaged.
- 3
Do not start non-emergency repairs, and do not let a tenant or contractor clear damaged items until the damage is documented and the insurer's requirements are checked.
- 4
Get the tenant's account in writing, with dates. When they first noticed it matters as much as what they noticed.
- 5
Find the policy schedule and the full wording, not just the certificate. The unoccupancy clause, the loss of rent section and any accidental or malicious damage extensions are the parts that decide the claim.
- 6
Notify your insurer in line with the policy conditions. That obligation stays with you and should not be delayed. Call us before you do it if you can, so the notification and the evidence start out right.
Your loss assessor and the insurer's loss adjuster
Appointed by the insurer
An insurer-appointed loss adjuster investigates the claim and reports to the insurer. Usually competent, usually professional, and not working for you.
Appointed by you
A loss assessor is appointed by the policyholder. We work solely for policyholders, not insurers. On a landlord claim that means establishing the extent of the loss, preparing the evidence and the figures, and presenting your position to the insurer.
Landlord claims across Northern Ireland and Scotland
Northern Ireland
We act for landlords throughout Northern Ireland, including Belfast, Derry, Newry, Armagh, Ballymena, Craigavon, Coleraine, Enniskillen, Omagh and surrounding areas.
Scotland
In Scotland we act for landlords across the central belt and beyond, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Kilmarnock, Motherwell and Stirling.
We attend site in both regions for damage assessments, surveys, structural damage surveys and meetings with the insurer or its loss adjuster.
Landlord obligations are not identical in the two jurisdictions, and what you are required to do while repairs are outstanding can affect how quickly a claim needs to move. It is one of the things worth talking through on a call, because it depends on where the property is and on the tenancy itself.
Is this service right for your claim?
It is likely to suit a claim that is complex, high-value, disputed, or where the loss of rent element matters as much as the building damage.
It is likely to be less suitable where:
- The damage is clearly below your policy excess.
- The cause is not covered by the policy.
- The claim has already been finally settled.
- The evidence required is no longer available.
- The matter needs legal representation rather than loss assessing.
Suitability can only be confirmed once we have seen the circumstances and the documents.
Fees
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.
PCLA explains its fee and terms clearly before appointment.
What the work involves will vary with the scale of the damage, the number of properties or areas affected, whether loss of rent is part of the claim, how much inspection and reporting is required, whether specialists are needed and the stage at which we become involved. All of it is explained before any engagement begins.
There is no charge for the initial review or for the site inspection. Our fee applies only if and when the claim settles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a loss assessor and a loss adjuster?
A loss assessor is appointed by you, the landlord. A loss adjuster is appointed by the insurer to investigate the claim and report back to it. We prepare and present your claim; the adjuster assesses it for the insurer.
When should I contact a loss assessor?
The earlier you involve us, the more we can do. The best time to call is before you notify your insurer, or before you accept a settlement figure, while the evidence and the scope of the claim can still be shaped. A short call at that point costs nothing and does not commit you to anything.
Does landlord insurance cover loss of rent?
Most landlord policies include loss of rent cover where insured damage stops the property being let or occupied. The amount, the limits and the indemnity period depend on the wording, and the indemnity period usually runs from the date of the damage rather than from when repairs start.
My property was empty when the damage happened. Am I still covered?
It depends on how long it had been empty and what your policy's unoccupancy condition says. Cover for escape of water, theft and malicious damage is commonly reduced or withdrawn once a property passes the unoccupancy period, and extra conditions may apply. Being past the limit does not automatically end the claim, particularly where the breach had nothing to do with the damage.
Can you help with damage caused by a tenant?
Sometimes. Cover for accidental damage, malicious damage, theft and neglect varies a great deal between policies. If the damage looks deliberate, report it to the police and get a crime reference before anything else, because a number of policies require it.
My landlord insurance claim has been declined. What now?
The earlier you involve us the more we can do, and the strongest position is a call before you respond to the insurer. That said, we can review the reasons given and the evidence. It does not follow that the decision can be changed. What happens next depends on the wording, the evidence and the reasons given.
Do I still need to notify my insurer myself?
Yes. Notification in line with the policy conditions remains your responsibility and should not be delayed. We can tell you what information to have ready, and it is worth a call before you make that notification.
Should I start repairs before the claim is agreed?
Do whatever is needed to prevent further damage or deal with an immediate risk, and keep the evidence and invoices. Beyond that, hold off on non-emergency repairs until the damage is documented and you have checked what your insurer requires.
Do you work with HMO landlords?
Yes. HMOs carry licensing, fire safety and inspection obligations a standard let does not, and insurers look closely at those conditions when a claim is made, so the paperwork matters more than usual.
What does the initial review cost?
Nothing. There is no fee for the initial review or the site inspection. Our fee applies only if and when the claim settles, and it is explained in full before you appoint us. 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.
Do you stay involved once the claim is settled?
No. We take the claim through to settlement and our role ends there. Arranging the repairs is yours to control, and you are not tied to us or to any particular contractor afterwards.
My property is handled by a managing agent. Does that matter?
No. We can deal with your agent directly so you are not passing information back and forth between them and us.
Will I have one point of contact?
Yes. Your claim is handled by its own loss assessor, with a senior assessor overseeing where needed. You will hear from us at least weekly, usually more often.
Will appointing PCLA get me a better settlement?
We cannot promise a particular figure, and any firm that does should be treated with caution. Our role is to document the loss properly and present it. The insurer makes the final decision on policy cover.
Which areas do you cover?
Northern Ireland and Scotland, with site attendance in both.
Talk to us about your landlord claim
A damaged rental property means repair decisions, tenant problems, lost income and a large amount of claim administration, usually all at once.
The earlier you involve us, the more we can do. The best time to call is before you notify your insurer, or before you accept a settlement figure, while the evidence and the scope of the claim can still be shaped. A short call at that point costs nothing and does not commit you to anything.
Property Claims Loss Assessors Ltd, trading as PCLA, is a claims management company authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN 933781.