Chimney Fire Insurance Claim Guide Ireland
Everything you need to know about making a chimney fire insurance claim in Ireland — from what evidence you need to how Jonathon manages the entire process so you don't have to.
Does Home Insurance Cover Chimney Fires?
Yes. Most home insurance policies in Ireland cover chimney fire damage as an accidental event. Chimney fires — where creosote, soot, or tar deposits inside the flue ignite — are classified as sudden, accidental damage rather than gradual deterioration, which means they fall within the cover of standard home insurance policies.
Insurance cover for chimney fires typically includes:
- Professional CCTV chimney inspection and certified damage report
- Chimney relining with flexible steel or clay liner
- Partial or full chimney stack rebuild
- Replacement chimney pot, cowl, and flashing
- Scaffolding and access costs
- Waterproofing of the rebuilt chimney
- Internal plastering and making good where necessary
The excess on your policy will apply — this is the amount you pay towards the claim, typically between EUR 200 and EUR 500 depending on your policy. The insurer covers everything above the excess.
Not sure if your damage is covered?
Call Jonathon on 087 132 9780 for a free assessment. He can advise whether the damage is likely to be covered by insurance and, if so, manage the entire claim process for you.
How To Make a Chimney Fire Insurance Claim
Here is how the chimney fire insurance claim process works in Ireland, from the initial report through to completed repair and claim closure.
Report the Incident to Your Insurer
Contact your home insurance company as soon as possible after the chimney fire. You will need to provide basic details about what happened, when it occurred, and the address of the property. Note your claim reference number and the name of your claims handler. Alternatively, call Jonathon first and he can guide you through what to tell your insurer — or handle the initial report on your behalf.
Get a Professional Chimney Inspection
A qualified chimney specialist carries out a full inspection of your chimney. This includes an external assessment of the chimney stack, flashing, and pot, plus a CCTV camera survey of the entire internal flue. The CCTV survey is essential — it reveals internal damage that is invisible from outside, and provides the photographic evidence your insurer requires.
Obtain a Certified Damage Report
The chimney specialist produces a certified written report documenting all damage found, with CCTV imagery, the identified cause of the damage, and a detailed scope of recommended repair works with costings. This report is the foundation of your insurance claim — without it, most claims will be delayed or rejected.
Loss Adjuster Inspection
Your insurer will appoint a loss adjuster to independently verify the damage and review the proposed scope of works. The loss adjuster visits the property, inspects the damage, reviews the certified report, and makes a recommendation to the insurer on whether to approve the claim and the scope of works.
Claim Approval
Once the loss adjuster is satisfied, the insurer approves the claim and the agreed scope of works. This approval typically takes 2-4 weeks from the date of the initial report, depending on the insurer and the complexity of the claim.
Repair Work Carried Out
With approval in place, the chimney repair work proceeds. This may include chimney relining, partial or full stack rebuild, new flashing, pot and cowl replacement, waterproofing, and any internal making good. Most repairs take 2-5 days on site.
Final Sign-Off and Claim Closure
The completed work is inspected, a certificate of compliance is provided, and the claim is formally closed out with the insurance company. Jonathon ensures the loss adjuster is satisfied and all paperwork is completed properly.
What Evidence Is Needed for a Chimney Insurance Claim
A successful chimney fire insurance claim requires proper documentation. Here is what your insurer and their loss adjuster will expect to see.
CCTV Chimney Survey
A camera inspection of the entire internal flue, recording all damage including cracked liners, collapsed mortar, obstructions, and signs of fire damage. This is the single most important piece of evidence for any chimney fire claim.
Certified Written Report
A professional report produced by a qualified chimney specialist documenting all damage found, the identified cause, CCTV imagery, and a detailed scope of recommended repair works with costings.
Photographic Evidence
External photographs of the chimney stack showing any visible damage — cracks, displacement, damaged pots, deteriorated flashing. Internal photographs of any damage visible from inside the property.
Fire Brigade Report
If the fire brigade attended, their incident report provides independent confirmation that a chimney fire occurred. This is not always required but strengthens the claim significantly.
Jonathon provides all of this as part of every chimney fire assessment — the CCTV survey, certified report, photographic evidence, and full scope of works. You don't need to source any of this yourself.
Common Reasons Chimney Insurance Claims Are Rejected
While most chimney fire claims are approved, some are rejected or reduced. Understanding the common pitfalls helps you avoid them — and having a qualified specialist manage the process dramatically reduces the risk of rejection.
Damage Attributed to Wear and Tear
Insurers may argue that the damage was caused by gradual deterioration rather than a sudden chimney fire. This is the most common reason for rejection, particularly if the chimney was already in poor condition before the fire.
A certified report from a qualified specialist clearly distinguishing fire damage from pre-existing wear is essential. Jonathon's reports specifically identify and separate fire-caused damage from age-related deterioration.
Insufficient Evidence
Claims submitted without a CCTV survey, without a professional report, or with inadequate documentation are frequently rejected or delayed. The insurer needs clear evidence of what happened and what repairs are required.
Always get a full CCTV survey and certified report before submitting a claim. Jonathon provides comprehensive documentation with imagery that meets the standards insurance companies and loss adjusters expect.
Lack of Maintenance
Some policies require that chimneys are regularly swept and maintained. If the insurer can demonstrate that the chimney fire was caused by a buildup of creosote due to years of neglect, they may reduce or deny the claim.
Keep records of chimney sweeping — even receipts or text message confirmations from your sweep. If you don't have records, Jonathon can address this in the report by focusing on the accidental nature of the fire event.
Policy Exclusions
Some policies have specific exclusions or conditions around chimney fires. It is worth checking your policy wording or asking your insurer directly before making a claim.
Jonathon can review your situation during the initial assessment and advise whether a claim is likely to succeed before you commit to the process.
How J.Roberts Manages Your Insurance Claim
Dealing with insurance companies, loss adjusters, paperwork, and negotiations is stressful and time-consuming. That is why Jonathon manages the entire chimney fire insurance claim process from start to finish. You don't have to deal with the insurance company at all.
What Jonathon Does For You
- Free inspection — visits your property, inspects the chimney externally, and carries out a full CCTV camera survey of the flue
- Certified report — produces a detailed written report with CCTV imagery documenting all damage, the cause, and the recommended scope of works
- Claim submission — submits the report and claim documentation to your insurance company
- Loss adjuster liaison — meets the loss adjuster on site, answers their questions, and negotiates the approved scope of works
- All communication — handles all phone calls, emails, and paperwork between you and the insurer
- Professional repair — carries out all approved repair works to the highest standard
- Claim closure — ensures the loss adjuster signs off the completed work and the claim is closed properly
We have excellent working relationships with many of Ireland's leading insurance companies and loss adjusters.
Jonathon is qualified to provide certified insurance reports and has built these relationships over years of professional chimney fire repair work. This means faster approvals and smoother claims for you.
Need Help With a Chimney Insurance Claim?
Call Jonathon for a free chimney inspection and damage assessment. If it is an insurance claim, he manages the entire process from CCTV survey to completed repair — you don't deal with the insurance company at all.