Insurance (Major Incident)
Hotels & Serviced Apartments
In the summer of 2024, a fire broke out late at night on the top floor of a Berkshire block of flats. The Fire Brigade quickly responded, extinguished the blaze and safely evacuated all residents from the building.
The aftermath of the fire revealed that 14 properties and the roof had fire damage and the building’s lift was out of service. To add to the distress for residents, flammable ACM cladding was discovered on part of the building. The building was immediately deemed unsafe, with no repair date predicted.
The families who lived in the block needed to be moved to immediate alternative accommodation whilst not only the fire damage was repaired, but the cladding remediation was dealt with too. ICAB was contacted to source and arrange the temporary homes for 85 of the flats. The Major Incident team ‘sprang into action’ and began the job of searching for suitable accommodation as instructions came in, using its vast database of providers.
Initially, the residents were booked into local hotel rooms whilst the team searched for a longer-term solution given the anticipated length of the repairs and cladding works. Searches were immediately started for serviced apartments. Serviced apartments offer greater independence than hotels; they will have cooking facilities and are ideal for families. They are suitable when the stay would be too long for a hotel, but not long enough for a rental property and have the added flexibility of extensions as necessary.
At ICAB, we strive to minimise disruption, so that work, school and daily routines are not impacted. The team worked diligently to ensure that all the residents needs were appropriately catered for taking into account the elderly, those with disabilities as well as families with young children and pet owners.
The team ensured that extensions were secured going into the autumn well in advance of the festive period as demand would likely be high for the apartments at that time of year. In ICAB’s experience, it is best to have accommodation secured rather than the residents be without a roof over their heads at any point.
One of the residents took the time to leave a review of the service her and her family received.
“Post fire incident at my apartment building, I was notified that ICAB was the appropriate contact to be made for alternative accommodation. I was given prompt replies and provided with a serviced apartment taking into consideration regarding my work place situation and as well as to make sure that I am taken care of during my stay. Thank you to the Major Incident Team.”
Specialists in arranging both planned and emergency alternative accommodation, assisting those who suffer unwelcome events in their home, such as flood or fire. Acting on behalf of Insurers, Social Housing organisations and a large range of Instructing Principals.
