Buildings insurance - Emergency measures

After a break-in, the next step is to get emergency temporary repairs done to secure your home, make it weatherproof or to prevent further damage being done. If your insurer runs a 24-hour helpline, ring that, since your insurer will either be able to organise the repair for you or will give you the telephone numbers of its preferred repairers. It may even agree to meet the costs of emergency repairs directly.
It is better to get the insurer’s consent for emergency work to be done, but if this is not possible (for example, there is not a helpline to phone), organise the repairs yourself, making sure that you keep copies of all paperwork. While you are waiting for the emergency repairer to turn up, do what you can to limit further damage and, if possible, take photographs pf the damage.
At this stage, do not throw anything away because your insurer may wish to have the damage inspected. If you have suffered very serious damage – a fire, for example – salvage anything you can and keep any remains.