|
Homeowners in new quake alert
Following the UK's recent earthquake - the biggest for nearly 25 years - Allied Surveyors has issued a warning to homeowners of the potential damage the recent quake could have done to their home...
With the earthquake reaching 5.2 on the Richter Scale, householders near the epicentre of the quake have already noticed cracks or slight structural damage and, are being warned that their homes may have suffered more serious consequences, which have so far been undetected.
Chris Rispin Technical Director, Allied Surveyors offers some advice to concerned homeowners: “Areas across the country have been impacted by today’s earthquake, and it is important that homeowners inspect their properties as soon as possible and notify any changes immediately.
“New cracks in both internal and external walls, along with broken pipes are typical of the damage caused by earthquakes and they must be logged and reported as soon as possible to insurers.”
Allied offers some basic advise for those living in the affected areas:
- Make a note of the time and date of the earthquake – this may seem simple but it is important to log any such activity and is something that can later be forgotten or mis-recorded
- Take a thorough look around your property, noting any new cracks that may have emerged since the quake – remembering to check behind any furniture that could be hiding new cracks
- Photograph any new cracks that have emerged – remembering to use a measure such as a pencil or even your finger in the photos to show the crack’s proportions and to allow for future comparisons
- Remember to check outside your property too – looking for any damage such as cracked drains which will need attention
- Report any damage to your building’s insurer – immediately.
“If any new cracks have emerged it is important to contact your building’s insurer straight away. All good policies should cover earthquakes, although consumers are advised check for any necessary excess,” adds Rispin.
“Once their insurer has been contacted they will send a member of staff to assess the problem. Consumers should request that their insurer covers the cost for a chartered building surveyor to visit and inspect the property - they will be able to assess the full extent of the damage and make any necessary recommendations for repair.
|