Case Studies
EDSS has already provided help and support to homeowners, private tenants, social tenants and business owners who have faced uncertainty and difficulties in the aftermath of a disaster. Here are just a few examples:
Water Damage in Peterborough EDSS were contacted by Peterborough Volunteer Fire Station to assist with a leaking pipe. The Fire Service were initially contacted due to an elderly lady in distress, who had fallen through her wooden floor which was void underneath with a four-foot depth. On inspection it was discovered that the property had water seeping down the walls, which had been ongoing for several months. This had started from a leaking water pipe from a damaged radiator. |   |
EDSS visited the property to assess how they could support the owner. A detailed inspection was taken out, the property was in a very poor condition and it was evident that the elderly owner did not have any support in place. There was a huge amount of waste throughout the property and unusable toilets, which had been blocked for some time. EDSS representative, Mike Ratcliffe, undertook the emergency repairs, which included cutting the water pipe and making it safe, removing the damaged radiator and purchasing sheets of flooring to fit over the damaged kitchen floor. He also assisted with cleaning the property from as much of the waste as possible and unblocking all toilets.
Mike spoke with the elderly owner at great length to ascertain information to provide to social services. He contacted them and an assessment was arranged within 24 hours, as a result a full in-house support package was put in place.
Fire Damage in Derbyshire After a kitchen fire broke out at a residential property in Derbyshire, fire control contacted EDSS to assist with emergency boarding of the rear windows and door as quickly as possible. | |
Upon arrival, it was evident that the fire damage was more extensive than initially believed and could take at least six months to repair. Mike Ratcliffe, EDSS representative, felt the elderly homeowner would require further support. It was established that no information had been provided to the fire service about the hospital that the homeowner had been taken to and she did not have a mobile phone.
EDSS arranged for contactors to carry out emergency boarding up and after locating the hospital, Mike visited the owner to pick up her house keys, to find out if she had family close by and if she needed help with contacting her insurance company. EDSS arranged for the owner to stay with a friend and assisted her with gathering her belongings and escorting her to her friend’s property. As the owner felt unsettled, she contacted Mike the following day and he arranged to collect her from the property and booked her into a hotel until the insurance company were able to arrange temporary accommodation. Over six months later, she was able to move back into her home.
Property Damage in Leicester Leicester Fire Service contacted EDSS to assist with emergency repairs and family support following a car incident. The driver of the vehicle was over the drink-drive and speeding limit. The vehicle hit the front of a residential property, embedding into the wall, causing damage to a bay window and a large section of the wall. | |
EDSS visited the property where the police, fire service and a structural engineer were also in attendance. The fire service instructed EDSS to assist with emergency boarding and support to the owners after the structural engineer had given the fire service approval to move the car and board out the damage.
It transpired that there was more structural damage than initially thought, which led to the owners of the property making an insurance claim. EDSS liaised with the insurance company and as they were unable to send a surveyor out immediately, they authorised for EDSS to carry out emergency repairs and make the property safe. EDSS then arranged to have the car removed, had an independent structural engineer report prepared, removed the damaged radiator, cleaned up debris and arranged emergency accommodation for the owners until their loss adjuster was able to visit the site and fully repair all the damages.
Fire Damage in Derbyshire EDSS were contacted by Derbyshire Fire Control following an extensive roof fire that was caused when a set of hair curling tongs had been left on whilst the owners had gone out for the evening. | |
The entire roof was alight and there was a large amount of water damage to all rooms throughout the property. This was a substantial four-bedroom property with many high-priced contents and furniture items.
EDSS arrived at the property at 1am on New Years Eve and spoke at great length with the distressed owners. EDSS, along with the on-site commanders and firefighters, spent over 10 hours at the property retrieving a large number of personal items, furniture and photographs. EDSS contacted the insurance company, the insurance claim took one year to process.
Water Damage in Cambridge A homeowner in Cambridge experienced significant water damage when a leak that started in her upstairs bathroom caused damage to a large section of the ceiling, walls and flooring of her property. | |
Following an initial discussion with the insurance company, a contractor visited to assess the damage. However, the following day, the water continued to seep through the ceiling and walls and the owner called the Cambridge Fire Service. The Fire Service contacted EDSS to assist and support.
Mike Ratcliffe, EDSS representative, met with both the owner and the fire service on site. Upon arrival it was clear that the ceiling had suffered so much damage that it was deemed unsafe and could possibly collapse. Mike arranged to have the owner moved from the house and removed all furniture and personal items beneath the damaged ceiling to a dry area. Mike contacted her insurance company for the second time, however due to several delays, EDSS undertook the emergency repairs until the insurance company could arrange for a contractor to visit the property. This involved removing the damaged ceiling, the damaged water pipe and making safe. All saturated carpets and underlays were removed and furniture and personal belongings were moved to a safe area. This was then handed over to the insurance company to handle all repairs.
Fire Damage in Cambridge Cambridge Fire Service contacted EDSS to attend a site visit at a residential property owned by an elderly couple, following a fire. There was extensive smoke damage throughout the entire property, plus additional damage to a large section of the conservatory. | |
When EDSS arrived at the property, the couple were accompanied by their three sons. It was explained that the house insurance had not been renewed so the damages would be handled directly. The couple’s sons owned a building company and were able to manage the repairs. Along with EDSS, they devised a plan to ensure that everything could be taken care of.
EDSS worked on cleaning and deodorising the entire property and contents and, after completion, the sons’ building company repaired the damage to the conservatory, redecorated the entire property and replaced all carpets. Together, they were able to complete all repairs and ensure the couple were able to move back into their home within just three weeks.
Fire Damage in Staffordshire EDSS were contacted to assist with emergency support for a vulnerable elderly couple who had suffered a bedroom fire and were in shock. They needed someone experienced there who had time to talk them through what was happening and what was going to happen in the coming days and weeks. | |
The couple had extreme health issues, so EDSS arranged for them to be re-housed immediately through the Insurance Claims Accommodation Bureau (ICAB).
EDSS also arranged for their personal belongings, including medication to be taken to the couple, scheduled meetings with insurance professionals and helped the couple with their insurance claim over the following days.
Fire Damage in West Midlands An individual in the West Midlands suffered a severe kitchen fire in the house they rented. The fire service got in touch with EDSS to provide emergency support and advice to the tenant and their landlord. | |
As soon as they arrived, EDSS arranged for the property to be boarded up. The emergency works were completed within the hour. Whilst the physical work was underway, EDSS also arranged for emergency council housing for the tenant for the night.
EDSS scheduled a meeting the following morning between the owner of the property and a Loss Assessor. This enabled the owner to run the insurance claim without having to be at the house too often and to get the repairs underway without delay.