Tenant Damage Claims | Ireland-wide

Tenant Damage Insurance Claims

Suffered tenant damage? You don't have to take the insurer's first offer. We document the loss, prepare the claim, negotiate the settlement, and only get paid when you do.

Established 1988 Central Bank regulated, Cert C41330 No win, no fee

  1. 01 We meet Free site visit, often the same day for emergencies.
  2. 02 We document Every affected room, item and structural detail recorded.
  3. 03 We negotiate We handle every conversation with the insurer's loss adjuster.
  4. 04 You're settled Maximum entitlement, full reinstatement, peace of mind.
35+ Years in business since 1988
26 Irish counties served
156+ tenant damage claims settled
100% No win, no fee guarantee
Tenant Damage Insurance Claims, N.J. Carroll & Associates

Dealing with tenant damage insurance claims can be a stressful and challenging experience for any landlord, particularly when the property is between tenancies and you are trying to weigh up the deposit, the insurance position, and the time it will take to re-let. A loss assessor reads the policy first, confirms which damage is claimable, and presents the claim under the right peril. N.J. Carroll & Associates have handled landlord claims across Ireland since 1988.

How to Make A Tenant Damage Claim

  1. Document the damage thoroughly during the move-out inspection. Compare to the move-in inventory. Photographs, dates, and a written schedule.
  2. Establish whether the damage is accidental or malicious. The two are treated differently on most landlord policies.
  3. Obtain repair quotations. Two or three from reputable contractors.
  4. Check the deposit position. Insurance and deposit are not mutually exclusive but the insurer will offset where appropriate.
  5. Read the policy schedule. Landlord policies vary widely on tenant damage; some include malicious-by-tenant cover, some exclude it.
  6. Engage a loss assessor. The loss adjuster works for the insurer; tenant damage claims are commonly disputed.
  7. Document loss of rent during reinstatement if applicable. Most landlord policies include a loss of rent section that should be claimed in parallel.
  8. Prepare the reinstatement schedule. Include redecoration, replaced fittings, deep cleaning, and any structural work.
  9. Negotiate the settlement.
  10. Coordinate with any RTB (Residential Tenancies Board) action separately.

Remember, tenant damage claims hinge on the inventory and the policy wording. The inventory is usually the deciding evidence.

What is considered a tenant damage insurance claim?

A tenant damage claim sits across two policy headings: malicious damage (deliberate damage by an occupier) and accidental damage (where in force as an extension). The peril matters because malicious damage is typically a separate, narrow section with its own conditions on landlord policies.

Common Causes of Tenant Damage Insurance Claims

  • Damage to walls, doors, and skirtings beyond fair wear and tear
  • Damage to fitted kitchens, including burnt worktops and broken appliances
  • Bathroom damage, broken tiles, removed fittings, sealant failures
  • Damage to flooring (carpets, laminate, tiles)
  • Damage caused by unauthorised pets
  • Damage to garden, outbuildings, fences
  • Removal of fittings or built-in furniture
  • Damage from unauthorised alterations

Does insurance cover tenant damage?

Most landlord policies cover tenant damage but not all of it. Common refusal grounds:

  • Wear and tear. The policy does not cover what the deposit is meant for.
  • Accidental damage not in force. Optional extension on most landlord policies.
  • Malicious damage by tenant. Treated separately. Some policies exclude it altogether.
  • Unauthorised occupants. If a different person was living there, cover may not apply.
  • Notification delay. Damage discovered months after the tenant left and not promptly reported.

How N.J. Carroll & Associates Can Help

We are one of Ireland’s most experienced loss-assessing firms, established 1988, regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. We act as the landlord’s representative throughout, take the stress and worry off your hands, and ensure that you receive your full entitlement. We are wholly independent and committed to your interests alone.

Our standard fee is 8% plus VAT of the total settlement, no-win, no-fee. The initial consultation is free.

If a tenant has caused damage to your rental property, please do not hesitate to contact us today. For related claims, see malicious damage by tenant, loss of rent claims, and landlord claims. Reach the local team at loss assessors Dublin.

N.J. Carroll & Associates Ltd are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Our Financial Regulator Certificate number is C41330. Niall Carroll is a member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. We are also a member of the Irish Claims Consultants Association.


Related Insights from the Claimsroom

Why a specialist matters

What you get with a Tenant Damage loss assessor

Immediate damage control

Same-day site visit. Make-safe and emergency repairs arranged. Claim opened before the insurer's adjuster lands.

Clear, ongoing updates

Every conversation logged. Every offer presented to you in writing. You make every decision; we do the negotiation.

Maximum settlement secured

Detailed schedule, evidenced and presented. We push until the insurer pays the full entitlement, not the easy figure.

Cover heads we claim

You are entitled to more than you think

Most home and commercial policies include cover heads policyholders never claim, simply because nobody told them. We read the policy line by line so nothing is left on the table.

Buildings reinstatement

Full structural repair to original specification, not depreciated "indemnity" value.

Contents

Furniture, appliances, soft furnishings, replaced new-for-old where the policy permits.

Alternative accommodation

If your home is uninhabitable, the insurer pays for somewhere to stay until reinstatement is complete.

Professional fees

Surveyors, architects and structural engineers when remedial work needs their input.

Debris removal

Make-safe, emergency boarding-up and full clearance of damaged materials.

Loss of metered services

Water, gas and electricity charged through during the claim period.

Insurers

We know how every Irish insurer works

Three decades of claims means we've handled every major Irish insurer's policy wording, claim process, and adjuster panel. We know what each insurer settles easily and where each one fights.

  • Aviva
  • AIG
  • Allianz
  • AXA
  • FBD
  • RSA
  • Zurich
  • Irish Life
  • Liberty
Recent settlements

Stories of successful tenant damage claims we've settled

Case Study

Burglary claim settled — Waterford

The patio doors were prised open with a crowbar overnight, and every room had been searched and there was internal damage throughout.…

Read story

Case Study

Burglary claim settled — Tipperary

The patio doors were prised open with a crowbar overnight, and the alarm system was disabled during the entry and required full…

Read story

Case Study

Burglary claim settled — Meath

Access was gained through an upstairs window via the side flat-roof extension, and every room had been searched and there was internal…

Read story
Frequently asked

Common tenant damage claim questions

The tenant left and the property is in a state. Is the deposit enough or should I claim?

The two are not mutually exclusive but they overlap. Damage beyond fair wear and tear, particularly fittings, walls, kitchens and bathrooms, often exceeds a deposit. We work the inventory and the policy together to recover the right amount.

Will my premium go up if I make a claim?

Some claims trigger a premium increase, some don't, and accidental-damage claims behave very differently from theft or subsidence claims. We'll advise on the wider implications BEFORE you decide to claim, not just push every loss through.

Is the loss adjuster the insurer sent on my side?

No. The loss adjuster works for the insurance company, their job is to validate the claim and contain its cost. Your loss assessor (us) works only for you, the policyholder. They are not the same role.

How much do you cost? When do I pay?

No win, no fee. Our fee is a percentage of the additional settlement we secure above the insurer's opening offer, agreed in writing up front. If we cannot improve on what the insurer would have paid you anyway, you owe nothing.

Can you visit me anywhere in Ireland?

Yes. Our office is in Dublin 6W and we serve every Irish county. Same-day site visits are routine for emergencies; standard non-emergency visits within 48 hours.

I've already made my claim and the insurer has offered me a settlement. Is it too late?

Not at all. We can step in at any stage of a claim, even after an offer has been made, and frequently improve the settlement. Don't accept the offer until you've spoken to us, signing accepts the figure as final.

Brief us on your tenant damage claim

Don't take the insurer's first offer on tenant damage

Tell us what happened. Free advice, no obligation, response within the hour during business hours.

Suffered tenant damage? Don't take the insurer's first offer.

Talk to us before you talk to your insurer. Free, no-obligation advice. We typically reply within the hour.