When Can You Claim on Insurance?
Commercial property insurance typically covers roller shutter damage arising from:
- Vehicle impact, a vehicle striking the shutter, whether from your own premises or the public highway
- Attempted break-in or vandalism, deliberate damage by third parties
- Storm or weather damage, in some policies, where severe weather has caused structural damage
- Fire damage, where the shutter has been damaged by a fire on or near the premises
Mechanical or electrical failure from wear and age is typically not covered by property insurance. It may, however, be covered if you have a specific equipment breakdown or plant and machinery policy.
Policy terms vary significantly between insurers. Some policies exclude specific causes of damage or apply excesses that make smaller claims uneconomic. Always check your specific policy wording before submitting a claim.
What to Do Immediately After the Incident
- 1Secure the premises
If the shutter is stuck open due to impact or vandalism, your immediate priority is security. Call a shutter repair company, we can attend within 2 hours across Essex, and also consider calling the police if the damage is the result of a crime.
- 2Photograph everything before any repair
Take comprehensive photographs of all damage from multiple angles before any repair work begins. This is critical for your insurance claim. Without photographic evidence of the original damage, insurers may challenge the extent of the claim.
- 3Report to police if applicable
If the damage is the result of a break-in attempt, vandalism, or identifiable vehicle impact, report it to the police and obtain a crime reference number. Most insurers require this for relevant claims.
- 4Notify your insurer promptly
Most policies require prompt notification of incidents, some specify within 24 hours. Delayed notification can complicate your claim. Call your insurer's claims line as soon as the premises is secured.
- 5Get a written repair quotation
Your insurer will need a written quotation from a qualified contractor before authorising repair. We provide written quotations promptly, and our accreditation portfolio (ISO 9001, Safe Contractor) is accepted by all major commercial insurers.
Documentation Your Insurer Will Typically Require
- Photographs of all damage, taken before any repair work
- Police crime reference number (where applicable)
- Written repair quotation from a qualified contractor
- Evidence that the shutter was in maintained condition, your service records
- Details of the incident, date, time, how the damage occurred
- Any CCTV footage of the incident or damage
Why Your Service Records Matter
Insurers will sometimes question whether a shutter was in proper working condition before an incident, particularly for older shutters or where the extent of damage is significant. If your shutter has been regularly serviced and you have written service records showing it was maintained, this significantly strengthens your position.
A shutter that has not been serviced, and that has known pre-existing faults, gives an insurer grounds to argue that some of the damage was not caused by the incident but by pre-existing deterioration. This can reduce your settlement or result in a disputed claim.
We provide written repair quotations in a format accepted by commercial insurers. Our service reports document the condition of your shutter before any incident and confirm that maintenance was being carried out to a compliant standard.
If your insurer appoints a loss adjuster to assess the damage, we can liaise with them directly and provide any technical information they require. Call us on 01708 902 799 for prompt assistance with any shutter insurance matter across Essex.
Temporary Security While Your Claim is Processed
In most cases, we can carry out a temporary repair or install a temporary security measure while your insurance claim is processed, and then complete the permanent repair or replacement once the claim is authorised. This means you are not left with a security vulnerability while waiting for insurer approval.
We can also provide a separate quotation for any temporary works, which may be claimable separately under your policy as emergency security measures following an incident.