The cause of the fire: the procedure that decides payment
Short answer
Payment after a fire depends on the established cause: cover falls away for intentional acts and may be refused or reduced for gross negligence and for breaches of safety requirements written into the policy.
Who establishes the cause
The fire authority issues a report on the incident and the insurer carries out its own inspection. Those two documents are the backbone of the file. That is why the site is not cleared or repaired before the inspection — cleaning destroys exactly what proves the cause.
Negligence versus intent
Arson excludes cover entirely. Negligence is more complex: ordinary carelessness usually remains covered, while gross negligence — for instance working with an open flame in breach of an explicit requirement — can lead to reduction or refusal. The line is assessed case by case.
Requirements the policy already placed on you
Inspection of the electrical installation, the chimney, the heating appliance, a fire extinguisher in commercial premises — if the policy requires them, they are not recommendations. An unmet requirement is the easiest link between the damage and a refusal, because it is written down and verifiable.
Frequently asked questions
- What if the cause remains undetermined?
- That does not automatically mean refusal. The burden is on the insurer to prove a ground for exclusion if it asserts one.
- Can I start repairs immediately?
- Only after the inspection or with written consent. Preventing further damage, however, is your duty and is done at once — with photographs taken first.
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