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Insurance

The Insurance Section has adopted a strategy of arranging insurance to meet high level losses and internal funding of low-level claims. Policies cover public liability, employer’s liability, motor, property, computer, commercial leasehold and personal accident. In addition, the Section audits the liability claims handlers on a monthly basis, has full involvement in all litigated claims, represents the Council at Small Track Claim hearings, carries out Property Valuations, deals with Property Claims, gives advice on risk management, and ensures the implementation of risk improvements required by insurers following risk surveys.

Further details of each policy are provided below

Public Liability
This policy covers the council’s legal liability to pay damages and claimant’s costs and expenses for accidental loss, damage to property or injury to third party persons (not employees).

Employers’ Liability
This policy covers the council’s legal liability to damages and claimant’s costs and expenses for injury to employees arising during the course of their employment. Again, compensation is only paid if it can be shown that the Council has acted negligently.

Motor Insurance
This provides third party cover only. Where a third party damages the Council’s vehicle, the Insurance Section undertakes recovery of our uninsured losses.

Property Insurance
This covers all buildings owned by the Council or for which the Council has assumed an insuring responsibility by lease, statute or other legally binding agreement. The department pays the first £1000 (excess amount) of each claim.

Computer Insurance
This covers accidental damage to computers, etc. and includes losses for breakdown and theft. The department pays the first £1000(excess amount) of each claim.

Endorsement on Computer Policy

Commercial Leasehold
The Council has approximately 350 commercial tenants occupying its properties. The Insurance Section manages the building insurance arrangements for these properties. The Section generates individual policy documents for each property and issues invoices for the annual premiums.

Monitoring Claims
The Insurance Section directs and monitors the actions of our insurers, particularly in respect of complex or high value cases. This ensures that claims are dealt with in accordance with the Council’s best interests. We attend our insurer’s office to undertake a monthly audit of our claims files. Insurers need our approval for any claim settlement exceeding £1000.

Litigation
The insurance Sections defends claims for personal injury up to £1000 and property claims up to £5000 if the claimant has taken court action. The Insurance Section has a successful record of defending such claims in the County Court. For all claims above these limits external solicitors are appointed who are required to liase with the Insurance Section and seek the Section’s approval for any claim settlement exceeding £1000.

The following should assist you in identifying the department to whom you should address your claim or insurance enquiry.

INJURY OR DAMAGE ON THE PUBLIC HIGHWAY: Such claims may involve injury sustained, for instance, as a result of tripping or slipping on a pavement. Claims should be made in writing by the claimant or by the claimant's representative. They should provide details such as the date, nature and cause of the accident, and the location such as the address of the property outside which the accident occurred.

The letter of claim should be addressed to:

Highway Projects
Environment Department
Town Hall Extension
King Street
London
W6 9JU
Tel: (020) 8753 3075

DAMAGE TO THIRD PARTY PROPERTY BY COUNCIL OPERATIVES OR COUNCIL VEHICLES: Claims should be put in writing to:

Transport Manager
DSO 3 – Transport
Bagleys Lane Depot
London
SW6 2QA
(020) 8753 3272

DAMAGE CLAIMS FROM HOUSING TENANTS: Housing tenants may have a claim against the Council when the tenant's contents/decorations are damaged as a result of the Council's failure to repair.
If the claim is for damage to your property, we will require original receipts and/or replacement estimates and confirmation of the age of the items. Please be aware that the offer will not be on a new for old basis and as such will be adjusted for wear and tear.
Council tenants should contact their Quality Services Manager, or their delegated officers, at your local Area Housing Office to obtain a claim form.

Contact details for Area Housing Offices:

Fulham Central Area Housing Office
Fulham Town Hall
Fulham Broadway
SW6 1ER
Tel: (020) 7386 6000

Fulham North Area Housing Office
Clem Attlee Estate
Lillie Road
Fulham
SW6 7RX
Tel: (020) 7385 3355

Hammersmith Central Area Housing Office
6th floor
Hammersmith Town Hall Extension
King Street
W6 9JU
Tel: (020) 8753 4413

Shepherds Bush Green Area Housing Office
Atlantic House
1st floor
1 Rockley Road
W14 ODJ
Tel: (020) 8753 6868

INJURY CLAIMS FROM HOUSING TENANTS: In the first place you should contact the Insurance Section on 020 8753 2534, or 020 8753 2518, or 020 8753 2539

HOME CONTENTS INSURANCE COVER FOR COUNCIL TENANTS: The council is not responsible for insuring your personal belongings or furniture. You are strongly advised to protect the contents of your home through your own insurance scheme or through the Council’s home contents insurance scheme.

All matters relating to the Council’s home content insurance cover are to be directed to:

Housing Management Services
Technical and Support Services Unit
2nd Floor
Riverview House
Beavor Lane
Hammersmith
W6 9AR

Tel: (020) 8753 1928

LEASEHOLDER'S INSURANCE: As a condition of your lease the council takes out building insurance cover for your property and the cost is recovered from the leaseholder through the annual service charge. The council insures the building in which you live, up to what it believes is the reinstatement value of your home. It does not insure the contents of your home.

All claims and other matters relating to leaseholders should be made to:

Home Ownership Unit
Riverview House
Beavor Lane
W6 9AR
Tel: 0208 753 4015/4814/4819

OTHER CLAIMS

In the event of any other claim against the Council such as a personal injury claim, please contact the Insurance Section for further advice.

The numbers are 020 8753 2534, or 020 8753 2518, or 020 8753 2539