A fire does not have to reach every room to ruin a home. Even a small kitchen fire can send smoke and soot through the whole property, into the walls, the carpets, the curtains and the electrics. If that has happened to you, making a smoke damage claim is likely to be one of the first things on your mind, along with the worry that you will not get everything you are owed.
At Sabre Assessing we act only for policyholders, never for insurers. We help homeowners, landlords, managing agents and businesses put together fire claims and see them through. This guide explains how smoke damage is dealt with, what your insurer should cover, what evidence matters and where claims most often go wrong, so you can approach it with confidence.
What counts as smoke damage?
Smoke damage is any harm caused by smoke or soot rather than by the flames themselves. It is often wider and harder to see than fire damage, which is why it catches so many people out. It can include:
- Soot staining on walls, ceilings, woodwork and furniture.
- A lingering smoke smell in fabrics, carpets, plasterboard and insulation.
- Smoke residue that corrodes metal fittings, appliances and electronics.
- Discoloured paintwork, wallpaper and flooring.
- Damage to the loft, roof void and ventilation systems, where smoke settles unseen.
Smoke can also travel a long way. A fire in a neighbouring flat, an outbuilding or a single room can leave a thin film of residue on every surface in the property, even in rooms that look untouched.
Is smoke damage covered by home insurance?
In most cases, yes. Smoke damage caused by a fire is normally covered under a buildings policy for the structure and fixtures, and under a contents policy for your belongings. The cover is there because the fire is the insured event, and the smoke is a result of it.
There are some situations to watch for. Damage from a fire that was set deliberately by the policyholder is not covered, and some policies limit cover for damage from a fire that you could reasonably have prevented. Smoke from something like a chimney, an open fire or a stove may be treated differently if the damage was gradual rather than sudden. It is worth reading the wording of your policy, and if anything is unclear, asking for help before you speak to the insurer.
If your claim started with a fire at home, our guide to claims management for fire and flood damage explains how a claim like this is usually managed from the first phone call to the final payment.
What to do straight after a fire
The first hours matter, both for your safety and for your claim. These are the steps we would suggest.
- Make sure everyone is safe and wait for the fire service to say that you can re-enter the property.
- Report the fire to your insurer as soon as you can. Most policies expect prompt notice.
- Take photographs and video of every affected room before anything is moved or cleaned.
- Keep damaged items, unless they are a danger, until the insurer or a loss assessor has seen them.
- Protect the property from further harm, such as boarding up a broken window, and keep the receipts.
- Keep a diary of every call, email and letter with your insurer.
Try not to start a full clean-up straight away. Wiping soot the wrong way can drive it deeper into surfaces and make the damage worse, and it can remove the evidence you need to show what was affected.
How to build a strong smoke damage claim
A good claim is a well-documented claim. The insurer will want to see what was damaged, how it was damaged and what it will cost to put right. If you take the time to build that picture properly, you give yourself the best chance of a fair settlement.
Record everything
Photograph every room, including the ones that look fine. Take close-ups of staining and wider shots that show the extent of the problem. Make a list of damaged contents with their age, what you paid and, where you can, receipts or bank statements. Photographs of the room before the fire can be useful too, if you have them.
Get specialist opinions
Smoke damage is a specialist subject. A cleaning and restoration company can tell you what can be cleaned and what must be replaced, and a surveyor may be needed for the structure. Do not assume that a surface that looks clean is clean, because smoke residue can sit behind it for months.
Be clear about the full cost
The claim should include the cost of repairs, cleaning, replacement of contents and any extra costs such as alternative accommodation while the work is done. Many policies include this cover, but you usually have to ask for it and prove the costs.
Cleaning or replacing: who decides?
This is one of the most common disagreements. The insurer may offer to clean an item, while you may feel replacement is more sensible. A fair outcome depends on evidence. If an item cannot be restored to its pre-fire condition, or the cost of cleaning is close to the cost of replacement, replacement is often the reasonable answer.
Electrical items are a good example. Smoke residue can corrode the circuits inside a television, a boiler or a computer, even if it works when you first switch it on. A professional report can make the difference between a cleaning offer and a full replacement.
Why smoke damage claims often get disputed
Insurers have their own experts, and their priority is to keep the cost of a claim down. That is not wrong in itself, but it can leave you with a settlement that does not cover the real cost of putting your home right. These are the issues we see most often.
- An offer that covers the visible damage but ignores smoke in the loft, the walls or the ventilation.
- Cleaning being offered for items that cannot realistically be restored.
- Contents being valued at a low figure, without allowing for the price of replacing like for like.
- Delays in getting an assessment, which leave you waiting while the property deteriorates.
- Cover for alternative accommodation being limited or not offered at all.
If your insurer has already told you something that does not feel right, you are allowed to ask questions, challenge the offer and ask for the reasons in writing. Our guide to the questions policyholders ask about roof damage shows how to approach a conversation like that, whichever type of claim you have.
How a loss assessor can help with a smoke damage claim
A loss assessor is an independent professional who acts for you, the policyholder, in dealing with your insurer. In a fire claim, that usually means we do the following.
- Go through your policy and explain what you are covered for.
- Visit the property, record the damage and identify what needs to be repaired, cleaned or replaced.
- Arrange specialist reports and quotations where they are needed.
- Prepare the claim in full, including the contents, the building and the additional costs.
- Deal with the insurer and the insurer’s experts on your behalf.
- Negotiate the settlement and keep you informed at each stage.
This takes a great deal of pressure off you at a very stressful time. You are not trying to learn insurance terminology while you are also trying to find somewhere to live. If you are weighing up whether to bring someone in, our article on how to choose a loss assessor sets out what to look for.
Loss assessors are usually paid a percentage of the final settlement, which is agreed in writing before any work starts. In many cases the improved settlement more than covers the fee, but you should always ask for the terms to be explained clearly.
Smoke damage for landlords, managing agents and businesses
Smoke damage does not only affect homeowners. A landlord may have a tenanted property out of use and unable to earn rent. A managing agent may have several flats affected by a fire in one unit. A business may have stock, equipment and premises that cannot be used, and every day of delay costs money.
In those cases the claim often includes more than the repair bill. It might include loss of rent, loss of income, temporary premises and the costs of relocating. These items need careful evidence and are easy to under-claim, which is another area where specialist help can pay off.
How long does a smoke damage claim take?
It depends on the size of the fire and how quickly the evidence is gathered. A small, straightforward claim can be settled in a matter of weeks. A larger one, with structural repairs, specialist cleaning and the need to rehouse the family, can take many months. The most common cause of delay is incomplete information, so the better prepared the claim, the faster it tends to move.
It is perfectly reasonable to ask your insurer for regular updates and a clear timetable. If you are being left waiting, say so in writing and keep a copy.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Throwing damaged items away before they have been recorded.
- Accepting the first offer without checking that it covers everything.
- Letting a cleaner start work before the insurer has agreed to it.
- Forgetting to include smaller costs, such as temporary heating, storage or laundry.
- Leaving it too long to report the fire.
Most of these are easy to avoid once you know about them, and the most important point is that you do not have to rush into a decision. Take your time and get the facts straight.
Your questions about smoke damage
Will my premium go up after a claim?
It might. Insurers take your claims history into account when you renew, although the effect depends on the insurer and on the type of claim. Fire is not usually something the policyholder could have prevented, but it is worth asking about at renewal.
Can I claim for smoke damage if the fire was next door?
Often you can. If smoke from a neighbouring property has damaged your home, you may be able to claim on your own policy. The insurer may then try to recover the cost from the neighbour or their insurer, which is called subrogation, and this should not affect your settlement.
Is smoke smell covered?
A smell is a real form of damage, and it is part of a proper fire claim if it affects the building or your belongings. It usually needs specialist treatment, and the cost of that treatment should be included.
Get help with your smoke damage claim from Sabre Assessing
A fire is distressing enough without having to fight for a fair settlement. If you would like to talk through your situation, get in touch with our team and we will explain your options with no pressure. You can also find out more about the way we work on our home page. We are here to make sure you are treated fairly, and that your home or business is put back the way it should be.