Part of National Energy Services
Avoiding Insurance
Claims
Hilary Grayson
Head of Surveying Services – SAVA
Offering the next generation of surveyors a way forward

 How insurers view a claim
 The SAVA process
 Some recent claims and lessons to be learnt
 Basic rules of inspection

 They don’t rush to settle a claim
 Call for all evidence
 Work with the claims team at NES to pull together all of the evidence
 Review all the evidence ‘ What would happen if the claim goes to court?
 Rule applied – could the claim be successfully defended?

• You should have your own clear complaints process
• In the first instance this involves you trying to resolve the complaint
• In the event that you cannot do so, then escalate to SAVA
• But you must tell us as soon as you can if you think the complaint might involve a claim

• We handle the discussions with the claims investigators appointed by the insurer
• We will look to see what documents you have lodged but usually have to call for more
• You send us all your photos and site notes etc. and any comment you want to make on the claim

No grounds for the complaint
Complainant may have a point!
May be a misunderstanding
The surveyor did not report properly – got it wrong!
May be that the complaint can be defended
The surveyor cannot defend his judgement!

• The insured carried out a Home Condition Survey
• On visual inspection the electrics looked OK
• Modern consumer unit
• Earth bonding visible
• But on moving in electrics found to be faulty
(albeit the faults would have been hidden at the time of the inspection)
• Claimant had the property re-wired ( we presume at considerable cost as there would be ancillary re-decoration).

• Insurers advised the claim would be settled on a DMV basis.
• Investigation was swift because the surveyor admitted that they made a mistake!
• No test certificate was available – should have been CR3

“When applying Condition Ratings to any of the
“services that kill” if no recent test certificate is present issued in accordance with the guidance from the relevant competent persons scheme, then a Condition Rating 3 should be applied on the basis that further investigation is needed”

• A very unfortunate case
• Circumstances as explained to me by investigators
– Area had knotweed
– Buyers had specifically asked the surveyor to look out for knotweed
– Year after purchase knotweed was found in the garden

o Claim was lodged and internal investigations started o Claimants very quickly took legal advice o While the claims investigators and the Complaints team at NES were still looking at the claim the
Claimants lodged the claim with the Court o Insurers had to appoint solicitors – time frame ramped up

• Difficult position
– Lawyers advised insufficient evidence to successfully defend the claim
– Insurers did not want to risk more expenditure
– Claimants had put in a relatively low claim – on the face of it NOT Diminution in Value but Cost of
Remedy
– Risk – being liable for more cost
• Agreed – settle out of court with no admission of liability on surveyor

When carrying out the inspection the surveyor must have consideration to any risks to the property that could originate from outside the boundaries of the subject property. Surveyors must be able to identify Japanese
Knotweed at all times of year and must report to their client that they have identified Japanese Knotweed when :-
• It is within the boundary of the subject property irrespective of how far it is from any buildings or structures
• It is visible on any neighbouring properties within 7m of the boundary of the subject property.
• For the avoidance of doubt a neighbouring property can be any property within 7 meters of the boundary of the subject property and is not restricted to the immediately adjacent property.

• When recording the presence or other wise of
Knotweed the site notes and photographs should together evidence:-
– Locations from which the surveyor did a visual inspection of any neighbouring property [note; neighbouring property should only by inspected from within the subject property or from publicly accessible land]
– Any limitations that prevented a visual inspection (eg high fences, thick shrubs and planting preventing access to the property boundary, etc.)
– Any plants that could be mistaken for
Knotweed Wording need to be reviewed and then the correct place identified.