Fire

Hi guys

I have an investment property that is rented privately to a family member. The property caught on fire today. Everyone is safe and the damage is not too severe ( only the back half is burned down)

My husband and I was away at the time of the fire (1650) and got back at 2100 to organize accommodation for everyone.

The housemates called the police and they came, they managed to cease the fire. They gave me a report number without the actual report, saying it will be posted via snail mail.

I called the insurance company (budget direct) who keeps cutting off. They need to know what happened (what caused the fire) but I have no ideas. I'm actually completely clueless at the moment.

Now everyone is safe we want to know what's the next step? Please help any advice or thoughts appreciated.

 

Follow your insurer’s requests and instructions.

Did the fire brigade attend? Do the tenants know what caused the fire?

 

At least everyone is safe..By the sounds of this as half the house is destroyed as this is a private rental the first question they may ask is do you have a resi lease in place and a bond ,that's one of the question's they always ask me ,but fire is a different matter ..Who put the fire out the Police or the Fire department?.
Just ring your landlord insurance obtain claim number and let them worry about the problem,,good luck..

 

Thank you everyone for replying.
The phone keeps going silent and then both sides say hello hello and not able to hear the other. Probably Telstra. They told me they'd call me back and never does.

I finally managed to get through it. Lodged the claim and paid the excess. Fingers crossed for approval.

 

Did the fire burn through the phone line!?

 

On my mobile phone

 

I asked and I'm told by the tenants during the event of the fire both my smoke alarms did not sound. What happened if the alarms were checked prior and wa fine but did not work?

 

You want to dig out the invoice for the fire alarm checking.

 

I would not worry about that part as it's not going to make any difference now,just follow what the person who is looking after your claim tells you ..

 

Thanks the tenants said the smoke alarm worked last week so out should be ok. I'm just so scared.

 

Don't be scared, just make sure you follow the procedure of your insurer and double check your smoke detectors have been serviced within the last 12 months. Hopefully it wasn't a case of arson by your tenants.

 

I don't have any experience with Fire--,Floods water damage ,tenants that finish their life within the property and others that wreck the place yes ..The only worry you may have is find the receipt for the smoke detectors that were serviced recently and read your policy..That's why we put everything into property management when something like this happens ,then between the property management who will work with the insurance and yourself everything is streamlined..good luck..

 

Thank you.
There might be suspicions because the firemen saw an ashtray near where the fire might have started.

 

Be aware that most/all insurance companies will try everything and anything to get our of paying a claim.

I am talking from experience.

Like others have stated, follow the insurance company’s instructions and know your policy inside-out (the insurance company does).

Also, be persistent (that is, don’t take NO for an answer), especially if you believe you have legitimate grounds for your claim to be paid. Expect to get delays in processing progress and the royal runaround.

That is par for the course.

 

This is what I'm dreading. I too had bad experience from insurance but I had a property manager to help instead of on my own now.

It also scares me because the damage looks to be big.

 

All I can say is:

• Forewarned is forearmed
• Don’t jump at shadows
• FEAR stands for False Expectations Appearing Real

I know that may not appear as much help but they are some of my guiding principles I lean on when **** happens in my life.

 

Oh my!!!
I am praying for an approved assessment.
Can you disclose how much the bill is?

Update: the insurer has sent a make safe person to secure the property.