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Patrick Ginnelly & Co. Property Claims Assessors Patrick Ginnelly & Co. Property Claims Assessors

Smoke Damage Claims

Flames in a room beside a Christmas tree
Illustrative images only.

Smoke damage can reach far beyond the room where a fire started. Smoke and soot move through the whole building. They settle in walls, ceilings, carpets, curtains and furniture. A smoke damage insurance claim often has to cover damage that you cannot see at first.

Common causes and signs

A kitchen with blackened walls and ceiling, a table with a cloth, chairs and a fridge
Illustrative images only.

Smoke damage follows a kitchen fire, an electrical fault, an overheated appliance, a chimney or flue fire, or a fire in a neighbouring unit. A stove or heater that sends smoke back into the room can cause it too.

Common signs are:

  • a smell of smoke that does not clear
  • a grey or black film on walls, ceilings and windows
  • stained or discoloured paint
  • soot on curtains, bedding, clothes and soft furnishings
  • residue inside cupboards, drawers and light fittings
  • electrical items that behave oddly after the fire

What a smoke damage claim can cover?

The burnt roof timbers of a house, open to the sky, with debris on the floor below
Illustrative images only.

Depending on your policy, a claim can include:

  • cleaning of walls, ceilings, floors and joinery
  • repainting and redecoration
  • cleaning or replacing carpets, curtains, furniture and clothing
  • checking, cleaning or replacing electrical items
  • alternative accommodation while the work is done, where the policy includes it
  • for a business, damage to stock, machinery and equipment

Cover differs between policies. Your policy wording says what applies to you.

What to do first?

  1. Do not switch on electrical items that were in the smoke until a qualified electrician has checked them.
  2. Take photos and video of every affected room, including rooms that look clean.
  3. Keep damaged items until your insurer has seen them, or has agreed that you can dispose of them.
  4. Make a list of affected contents, with what you remember of age and cost.
  5. Keep receipts for cleaning and emergency costs.
  6. Read your policy for notice conditions. Tell your insurer as soon as you can, and within any time limit in your policy.

Where smoke damage claims get difficult

  • Hidden residue. Soot gets into voids, attics, ducts and behind fittings. It may not show on a first visit.
  • Clean or replace. You and the insurer may disagree on whether an item can be cleaned or needs replacing.
  • Cleaning it yourself. This can miss hidden damage, and it may make staining worse. Talk to your insurer before you start major cleaning.
  • Electronics and metal. Soot can harm electronic items and metal parts over time, so a fault may appear later.
  • Business stock. Smoke can taint stock, packaging and goods, and it can stop a business from trading while the premises are cleaned.

How we help

As Loss Assessors, we act for you, not for your insurer. We report the claim, meet the loss adjuster at your property, agree the scope of the cleaning and repair work, put together the detailed costs, and deal with your insurer until the claim is settled.

Not sure which claim fits? Contact us and tell us what happened.