Despite the inevitable stress that a damaged home or premises causes, there can be one good thing that emerges from a disaster – the chance to upgrade a property. From redesigning a kitchen through to installing new protective fixtures, there is a range of improvements that can be weaved into the repairs process to help make the best of a bad situation.
Here we outline the benefits of upgrading damaged premises, what property owners need to consider, and some of the pitfalls to avoid.
Why repair and improve?
If your property has suffered from severe damage from flooding or fire for example, repairing and reinstating it requires a significant amount of work. Rewiring, plumbing, decorating, plastering and carpentry are just some examples of what is usually required.
When faced with major refurbishment, which often requires areas to be completely stripped back, it makes sense for property owners to consider how to get the most value out of the work and steps they can take to avoid any future disruption. That may include redesigning or reconfiguring certain rooms or adding new and improved features that will enhance the overall appearance of a space or minimise the risk of future damage.
From the installation of top of the range kitchens through to contemporary bathrooms, we have worked with many property owners who have taken this approach and transformed their properties after serious damage.
For those who don’t require this level of renovation, even small upgrades or modifications can be hugely beneficial. For example, flood ‘resistance measures’ can significantly reduce the risk of flood damage as they’re designed to keep water out of a property by blocking openings at ground level.
There are various flood protection products also available such as door guards and airbrick covers, and kitchens can be redesigned to be more resilient, including raised electrical appliances and sockets.
Insurance and cost considerations
It is important to note that if you claim on your insurance following property damage, most policies will only allow you to repair or replace what existed before using similar materials. All repairs will have to be approved by your insurer and you will have to pay any extra costs for additional improvements carried out at the same time.
Repairs that will protect your home from flooding are often more expensive than standard repairs but long term, should pay for themselves by significantly reducing the risk of future damage.
If you do install measures that reduce the chance of flood damage, inform your insurer as this may affect how your risk level is assessed.
Before carrying out any major renovations or building improvements, it is strongly advised to seek specialist advice. Sarrani can put you in touch with highly skilled loss assessors who can confirm what repairs and replacements are covered by your policy, as well as surveyors who can recommend the most appropriate measures and how best to integrate additional work with more general repairs.
Advice for leaseholders
Most residential leases make the landlord responsible for maintaining the structure and exterior of the building plus shared parts. The landlord is also responsible for repairs following flooding from rain or an issue with a neighbouring property, but not if you caused the flood yourself deliberately or through negligence.
Leaseholders must pay for repairs that the lease says they are responsible for, which usually include internal plumbing, wiring, plasterwork, floorboards, decoration, carpets and furniture.
As a leaseholder, if you wanted to make additional improvements over and above those required in your lease, you may need to ask the landlord’s permission. If they agree, always get this in writing before going ahead with the work.
If you don’t ask permission, you could be asked to pay to change things back to their original condition, may not get your deposit back, or even risk eviction.
For commercial tenants, insuring the property is usually the landlord’s responsibility but check this in the lease. A standard commercial lease requires the landlord to insure the premises against a list of “insured risks” such as fire, flood and storm damage. If the property is affected by one of these, the lease provisions will dictate how the landlord and tenant should respond.
These will usually require the landlord to make an insurance claim to repair the damage and will specify that the reinstated premises must be equivalent in size and layout to the damaged premises.
Expert assistance
If you require assistance with any property insurance repairs, our expert team can provide you with all the resources you need to reinstate your home or business premises to a high standard and with the least possible stress.
As well as giving you access to specialist advice on repairs and potential building improvements, we can liaise with your insurer on your behalf and project manage all repairs and refurbishment work using our panel of approved contractors.
This includes stripping back damaged areas and taking appropriate measures to ensure the property is thoroughly decontaminated and restored to avoid further problems down the line. With a reputation for quality and care, we can also combine private work with insurance repairs as we’re experienced in all types of building improvements ranging from kitchen refits and bathroom renovations through to roof repairs and full refurbishments.
Furthermore, we will also oversee your project to ensure all work is carried out in accordance with the agreed schedule and relevant legislation, perform site visits when necessary, provide you with regular updates and save you an enormous amount of time and hassle dealing with insurers and contractors.
For further information on or assistance with property insurance repairs and carrying out additional improvements, please contact us on 020 3006 3126 or email our experts at info@sarrani.com.