Rebuild value
- Not the market value
- Not the WOZ value (the Dutch property valuation)
- Guarantee against underinsurance
Limiting the loss · photographs · loss adjuster
Reporting damage to your home
After the notification comes the part that determines the outcome: who assesses the loss, on what basis it is settled and what you can do if the insurer refuses.
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A premium indication, not personal advice. Prefer to talk it through? Call 072 - 509 24 56.
In brief
You report a claim as soon as reasonably possible; Article 7:941 of the Dutch Civil Code requires this and also requires you to cooperate with the investigation. Reporting late does not automatically mean losing your rights: the insurer must show that it has been prejudiced in a reasonable interest as a result.
Then comes the assessment. For a small loss, photographs and a repair quotation are sufficient; for a larger loss, a loss adjuster attends. You have the right to engage your own opposing loss adjuster; if the two adjusters cannot agree, they jointly appoint a third adjuster whose judgement is binding.
Finally the settlement: repair in kind through a restoration firm or payment in money, and the question of whether you will rebuild.
What does reporting damage to your home cover?
The structure of the cover in three parts, with an overview per situation below.
What is included
Everything permanently attached to the building.
- Building and installations
- Outbuildings
- Boundary fences
Extensions
What is excluded as standard.
- Glass
- Garden landscaping
- Inherent defect and foundations
What is covered
| Situation | Standard | With extension |
|---|---|---|
| Fire, smoke and lightning strike | Yes | Yes |
| Storm from force 7 upwards | Yes | Yes |
| Water damage from a burst pipe | Yes | Yes |
| Glass breakage | Sometimes | Yes |
| Groundwater coming through the floor | No | No |
| Wear and deferred maintenance | No | No |
This overview is general in nature and is not personal advice. What is actually covered, including exclusions, limits and the excess, is set out in the policy conditions and the insurance card (verzekeringskaart) of the insurer; you receive both before you take out cover. Taking out cover without advice? Then read what execution only means for you.
Where things go wrong in practice
Four points that make the difference between a policy that pays out and one that does not.
The role of the loss adjuster and the opposing adjuster
The insurer's loss adjuster establishes the cause, the extent and the circumstances. If you disagree with their estimate, you can appoint an opposing adjuster; the reasonable costs of doing so are reimbursed under most policies. Ask about this in advance and record the instruction in writing. Have the opposing adjuster present at the site visit, because a second inspection afterwards always produces a weaker file.
Repair in kind or payment in cash
Many insurers work with a network of repair firms; if you choose that route, often no excess or a lower excess is applied and the insurer arranges the guarantee. If you opt for payment in money, the estimate determines the amount and you bear the risk of any shortfall. The cost of improvements over and above the repair is at your expense in both cases.
Rebuild value, sale value and the rebuilding period
With a large loss it matters whether you rebuild. If you do not rebuild, many policies settle on sale value instead of rebuild value. A period also applies within which you must state that you will rebuild; do not let it pass unnoticed. Article 7:960 of the Dutch Civil Code ensures that a payout does not put you in a better position than before the loss.
If the insurer rejects the claim
A refusal is generally based on an exclusion, on a clause that has not been complied with, on Article 7:930 of the Dutch Civil Code in the case of an incorrect declaration, or on Article 7:952 DCC in the case of intent or recklessness. Always ask for the ground and the policy article on which the decision rests. If you still disagree, the insurer's internal complaints procedure comes first and then the route to Kifid (the financial services complaints institute) or the courts.
What does your premium depend on?
- Excess chosen — A higher excess reduces the premium and increases your share of every claim.
- Claims history — Earlier claims on the same home are taken into account at renewal and when switching.
- Repair through the insurer's network — Some policies reward repair in kind with a lower excess.
- Adjuster's costs included — Whether the costs of an opposing adjuster fall under the policy.
- Extent of the cover chosen — Extensions such as glass or garden landscaping also increase the number of items you can claim for.
- Preventive measures — Smoke alarms, water detection and security limit the extent of losses.
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is why comparing pays off.
How we arrange it
- You request a quoteWe take stock of your situation, your risk and your wishes.
- We compareseveral insurers, on premium as well as conditions.
- You receive a proposalWith an explanation of the differences and the exclusions.
- We arrange the switchIncluding cancellation, so there is no gap in cover.
9.5New policy
9.8Claims handling
Customers rate our service on four aspects: personal service, service delivery, availability and the outcome. The reviews are collected and published by NH1816 and come from customers who have actually taken out a policy with Finass Advies B.V. or reported a claim.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we are asked most often about this.
How quickly do I have to report a claim?
As soon as reasonably possible, says Article 7:941 of the Dutch Civil Code. If you report later, the insurer may reduce the payout only if it has genuinely been prejudiced in an interest by the delay, for example because the cause can no longer be established. If you only discover damage after a holiday, report it straight away and state when you left the property.
Who pays for the opposing adjuster?
Most buildings policies reimburse the reasonable costs of an opposing adjuster you appoint, often up to the level of the costs of the insurer's own adjuster. Check this in the conditions before you give an instruction and ask the insurer for written confirmation. If your opposing adjuster works on the basis of a percentage of the payout, have that expressly checked.
May I start clearing up before the loss adjuster attends?
Limiting the damage is precisely what you must do; that duty is set out in Article 7:957 of the Dutch Civil Code and the costs of it are reimbursed. But do not throw anything away and do not have permanent repairs carried out before the loss has been assessed. Photograph everything before you start, keep damaged parts and keep receipts for emergency measures separately in the file.
What do I do if my claim is refused?
Ask in writing for the reason and the policy article on which the refusal rests and put forward any facts the insurer did not know. If the decision stands, submit a complaint through the internal complaints procedure. If that does not resolve matters, you can put the case to Kifid or to the courts; observe the time limits stated in the refusal letter.
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About our service
Finass Verzekert is a trading name of Finass Advies B.V. We advise on and arrange non-life insurance on the basis of an objective analysis of several insurers, and receive commission for this from the insurer, which is included in the premium. You pay no separate advice fee. Before you take out cover, we establish your wishes and needs.
You will find our licence, KvK and Kifid details and our complaints procedure at the foot of every page.
This page was written and checked by an adviser at Finass Verzekert. Last updated on .
The information on this page is general in nature and is not personal advice.