Storm, Flood and Escape of Water Damage to Businesses

We have expertise acting for policyholders (including property owners, SME owner managed companies, construction professionals and property management professionals) in all types of property damage claims arising from flooding or escape of water including:

Extreme weather/flash flooding
Burst water pipes/defective workmanship
Activated sprinkler systems
Defective underground water pipes and subsequent land slips/soil erosion
Groundwater flooding.

We assist policyholders to recover the full extent of their loss under their insurance policy and/or from a liable third party.

We advise on policy coverage issues, reinstatement of premises, fixtures and fittings, stock, plant and machinery and consequential losses, including business interruption.

Our expertise covers:

Warehouses
Factories
Developments/construction projects
High street retailers
Office/apartment blocks
Hotels
Other commercial premises.

Recent examples of our work include:

Advising property management agents in relation to a £30 million residential property which sustained several million pounds worth of water damage because of defective plumbing works.
Advising the freeholder and commercial landlord of a large retail premises in relation to policy coverage and alleged breach of the notification requirements following extensive escape of water flooding at the premises.
Advising the owners of a bespoke fitted furniture business in relation to losses arising from flooding at their flagship London showroom and the extent of losses recoverable under the policy.
Advising an individual high net worth residential property owner in relation to an extensive claim for dry rot caused by defective plumbing and a slow leak.
Representing a couture fashion designer whose retail and design premises were affected by serious flooding. Advising in relation to insurers’ avoidance of the clam due to a purported failure to disclose a previous liquidation.
Advising high-net-worth policyholders following a serious flood at their property in relation to issues over the extent of alternative accommodation cover available under the policy.

Representing a manufacturing facility in a claim for professional negligence against its insurance broker following severe storm damage which revealed significant underinsurance for business interruption losses.