Home Insurance Claims

Home Insurance Claims

• Reporting a Claim

  Accidents or damage should be reported as promptly as possible by Policyholders telephoning us on 028 90891310 during business hours. When you call, please provide your policy number, details of what happened and the time and date of the incident. A Home Insurance Claims form should be completed and submitted with documentation to support the claim. A link to the Home Insurance Claims form can be found at the bottom of the page.

• Emergency Helpline

  Policyholders may telephone our Emergency Helpline on 0845 2064684 for assistance with emergencies involving plumbing or drainage problems which may involve flooding, failures of their gas or electricity supplies, damage to their roof where damage to the interior of the house is likely or emergencies involving water or oil leaks. Policyholders should identify themselves as customers of Allianz and give details of the emergency. In appropriate cases a qualified repairer will be instructed. We monitor the charges of this service to ensure they are kept as low as possible. Policyholders should pay the repairer but may be able to claim the cost if the nature of the emergency is covered by their policy.
  Gas leaks must always be reported to the gas authority.

• Legal Helpline

  Policyholders may use our Lawphone service which gives access to advice on personal legal matters by telephoning 0844 873 0243 stating they are a customer of Allianz and quoting the Scheme number given in their policy.

• Preventing Damage to Your Home

  The risk of damage by fire and water can be reduced by home owners taking some basic precautions. We recommend that the following steps be taken:

  • check electrical equipment regularly and always use the correct fuse
  • unplug unneeded electrical appliances, particularly television sets and electric blankets, at night
  • never leave a chip pan unattended
  • fit fire alarms and test weekly
  • ensure all water pipes are lagged and all tanks insulated on top and sides
  • know where the stopcock is located and check its operation regularly
  • keep drains and gutters clear of leaves and blockages

  If the house is empty overnight in winter

  • keep the central heating operating (but do not leave open fires burning)
  • leave the loft access open to allow warm air to circulate in the roof space
  • if there is no central heating close the stopcock and drain down the water system
  • have the house checked during absence by a neighbour or friend

  In the event of a burst pipe or overflow of water tanks:

  • close the stopcock
  • turn on all taps to drain the water system
  • switch off the electricity supply
  • turn off the central heating system
  • move furniture and fittings away from escaping water
  • catch escaping water in containers
  • if pipes have frozen, thaw out gently - do not use blowlamps.

  Escape of oil

  • If your property has suffered damage due to an escape of oil it is important to take steps to prevent the oil from spreading.
  • If the leak is from the pipe connecting the tank and boiler you can stop the flow of oil by turning the valve which is generally located at the front of the tank.
  • Please call us as soon as possible. We may arrange for a remediation survey to be carried out. In the meantime, to prevent further damage, you can repair the leak or replace the tank. Please note your policy does not cover this cost.
  • You can then contact a plumber to replace the damaged pipe for you. If the leak is from the tank you may need to replace it. Please keep the damaged tank or pipe for inspection.

  Loss (mobile phone, camera, jewellery etc)

  To be covered for loss of an item you must have All Risks cover on your policy. Please check your policy schedule for this information. To assist you we need the following information:

  • When and where the loss occurred.
  • The make and model number of the item. For jewellery we will need a photo or detailed description of the item.
  • The Garda/Police station you reported the loss to.
  • The Garda/Police reference (Pulse) number
  • Do not purchase a replacement item. We can arrange to replace lost items. For jewellery claims a voucher/store credit will be issued to you.

• Theft Prevention

  To prevent unauthorised entry to houses it is recommended that precautions include:

  • the fitting of mortice deadlocks or deadlocking rim latches to all external doors
  • the fitting of window locks which should be secured and the key removed whenever the house is unoccupied
  • stopping of newspaper and milk deliveries during holiday absences
  • the placing of valuables into safe custody during absences and use of a safe or bank deposit for items of jewellery, watches etc.
  • setting the alarm (where installed) every time the house is left.

  Because improved vehicle security prevents cars being stolen without a key, houses are being entered to obtain vehicle keys. Keys should:

  • not be left in view from windows
  • not be left on a hall table from where they may be hooked through the letter box
  • always be kept securely by drivers
  • be taken to the bedroom at night.

  Garden equipment and tools should be kept in locked garages or garden sheds.

• Record Keeping

  Experience shows that, despite precautions, thefts and damage by fire and water still occur. When claims arise we shall settle them as promptly as possible. The process will be assisted if a policyholder can provide detailed information about the items that are the subject of the claim. It is recommended that policyholders keep details of their property by:

  • having photographs of jewellery, valuables and paintings
  • keeping receipts for major items of household furniture
  • having details of model and serial numbers of the main items of electrical equipment, home entertainment and computer hardware
  • keeping an inventory of the contents of each room and of garages and sheds
  • having records of when and where items in the house were purchased.