Insurance Claims Support for Boarding Up in Harrow (HA0–HA9)

If you’ve had a break-in, storm damage, vandalism, fire, or an accident, dealing with the insurance side can feel like a second incident on top of the first. The priority is to make the property safe and secure — then to document what’s been done so you can move your claim forward.

Boarding Up Harrow provides boarding up services across Harrow and the wider HA postcode area (HA0–HA9), and we’ll give you the kind of clear paperwork insurers typically expect: a written description of the works, an itemised invoice, and time-stamped photos where possible.

We’re not loss adjusters and we can’t guarantee what your insurer will cover — but we can help you secure the site properly and provide straightforward documentation to support your insurance claim.

Need urgent help securing the property? Use our emergency boarding up service or call 020 4634 5472.

What insurers usually want after emergency boarding up

Most claims for forced entry, impact damage, or weather damage come down to two things:

  1. Proof of the damage and when it occurred (as best as possible)
  2. Proof you acted to prevent further loss

Boarding up is often viewed as a reasonable “mitigation” step — especially when glazing is shattered, a door has been forced, or a shopfront is wide open.

When we attend properties in Harrow, Wealdstone, Kenton, Pinner, Stanmore, Wembley and across the HA postcodes, we’ll typically provide:

  • Itemised invoice (materials, labour, and any additional work agreed on site)
  • Work summary (what was damaged, what we secured, and how)
  • Time-stamped photos (before/after where access and safety allow)
  • Company details for your claim file (so the insurer can identify who carried out the emergency works)

If the frames are too compromised for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain options before proceeding — for example, when a timber sash is rotten, a uPVC frame is shattered, or a shopfront surround has been pulled away in a burglary.

The documentation we provide (and why it helps)

Insurance assessors and claims handlers often work remotely at first. Good documentation helps prevent delays and repeated questions.

Itemised invoices (not vague one-liners)

We provide invoices that make sense to a claims handler: what was supplied, what was installed, and what it was for (e.g., “temporary boarding to front lounge window following impact damage”).

If you’re arranging repairs later, this also helps you separate temporary securing from permanent reinstatement.

For more on what affects cost, see boarding up pricing.

Photos you can attach to your claim

Where safe, we take photos showing:

  • The damaged opening (window/door/shopfront/rooflight)
  • The boarded/secured result
  • Fixing approach (especially important for vacant properties)

If a property is unsafe to enter (e.g., after fire damage, structural impact, or severe storm damage), we will not put our team at risk just to get an internal photo. In those cases, we’ll document what we can from safe access points and explain the limitation in our work statement.

A clear work statement for landlords and managing agents

If you’re a landlord, facilities manager, or managing agent, you often need a short report that can be forwarded to:

  • Insurers
  • Freeholders / managing companies
  • Tenants
  • Repair contractors attending afterwards

Our work summary is written plainly so it can be shared without translation.

What you should do to strengthen your insurance claim (practical steps)

Every policy is different, but these steps reduce back-and-forth with most insurers.

  1. Make it safe first

    • If there’s active danger (glass everywhere, exposed wiring, a door hanging off), don’t attempt a DIY fix.
    • If urgent, call our emergency boarding up line: 020 4634 5472.

  2. Report incidents properly

    • Burglary / attempted burglary: get a police reference number.
    • Vehicle impact or criminal damage: again, police reference is often requested.
    • Keep any crime reference, incident log number, or fire service attendance details.

  3. Take your own photos (only if safe)

    • Wide shots showing the room/area and the damaged opening
    • Close-ups of the point of entry or impact
    • Any relevant external shots (e.g., brick damage around a frame)

  4. Contact your insurer early

    • Ask whether they require pre-authorisation for emergency works.
    • If you can’t get through, document your attempt and still secure the property — preventing further loss is usually expected.

  5. Keep receipts and paperwork

    • Save our invoice and photos.
    • Keep receipts for any immediate safety costs you pay (temporary locks, cleaning hazardous debris, etc., if advised).

If your incident was a break-in, you may also want to read our guidance on boarding up after a burglary.

How our boarding methods stand up to insurance scrutiny

Insurers generally want to see that the property was secured in a way that reduces the chance of repeat entry and limits weather exposure.

Depending on the site and risk level, we may use:

  • 18mm exterior-grade plywood for strong, reliable window and door boarding
  • 12mm OSB for smaller or lower-risk openings (where appropriate)
  • Anti-tamper fixings to make removal from the outside much harder — particularly important for unattended or vacant buildings
  • Temporary steel doors where a doorway has been forced and boarding alone isn’t practical for ongoing access
  • Security screens for longer-term void security (ideal where repeated attacks or squatting risk is a concern)

You can learn more about each option here:

Common claim scenarios we see across Harrow and HA postcodes

Break-ins and forced entry (homes and flats)

In Harrow’s residential areas — from 1930s semis and terraces to flats above parades — forced doors and smashed rear windows are common claim situations. We secure the opening quickly and leave it in a condition that a glazier or door engineer can later reinstate.

Related: burglary repairs and boarding up

Shopfront damage and vandalism (parades and high streets)

From local parades to busier commercial spots, shopfront glass is often attacked out of hours. We use appropriately sized boards, fixings suited to the surround, and a finish that reduces obvious pry points — while keeping signage and shutters in mind.

Related: vandalism repair and boarding up and shopfront boarding

Storm damage (loose glazing, rooflights, and wind-driven rain)

When wind or debris breaks glazing, the insurance concern is usually “further damage” (water ingress, contamination, more breakage). We prioritise weatherproofing as far as the opening allows.

Related: storm damage boarding

Fire and flood (securing, not remediation)

After fire or flooding, insurers may instruct specialist cleaning and reinstatement contractors. Our role is to secure the property: boarding vulnerable openings, fitting temporary doors where needed, and helping you prevent unauthorised access.

We don’t provide smoke/odour remediation or drying services — but we can make the building secure while those works are arranged.

Related: fire damage boarding and flood damage boarding

Working with landlords, managing agents, and commercial policies

If you manage multiple properties — or you’re dealing with a shop, office, school, or community building — insurance requirements often include extra admin.

We can help by providing:

  • Clear access notes (how we attended, keys/entry method if provided)
  • Out-of-hours documentation if works were carried out overnight
  • RAMS awareness where required on commercial sites (you can tell us your site requirements when you call)
  • A sensible security recommendation if the property will be vacant for a period

If the property is going to be empty, see boarding up for vacant properties and consider whether security screens or a temporary steel door is more appropriate than short-term plywood alone.

FAQs about insurance claims and boarding up in Harrow

Is boarding up covered by insurance in Harrow?

It can be, but it depends on your policy wording and the cause of damage. Many policies treat boarding up as an emergency mitigation measure. We’ll provide the invoice and documentation you can submit, but we can’t guarantee cover.

Should I wait for insurer approval before I board up?

If the property is insecure or exposed to weather, waiting can lead to further loss. If you can, contact your insurer first; if you can’t get through, secure the property and keep a record of your call attempt. For urgent situations, use 24/7 emergency boarding up in Harrow.

Will you provide photos and an invoice suitable for my claim?

Yes — where it’s safe and practical. You’ll receive an itemised invoice and (in most cases) time-stamped photos, which you can forward to your insurer or managing agent.

What if the door or frame is too damaged to board securely?

If the surrounding frame is unstable, boarding may not hold or may risk further damage. We’ll talk you through options on site — which can include a more robust approach like a temporary steel door (where suitable) or additional bracing/fixing methods.

I’m in HA1/HA2/HA3—do you cover my area?

Yes. We cover Harrow and the HA postcode area (HA0–HA9). If you’re unsure, check areas we cover or call 020 4634 5472 and tell us your postcode.

We’ll ask a few straightforward questions so we can attend with the right materials:

  • Where the damage is (front/rear, floor level, shopfront, rooflight)
  • Whether the property is occupied, vacant, or trading
  • Any immediate hazards (loose glass, alarms, shutters, fire damage)
  • Access arrangements (keys, meet-on-site, managing agent contact)
  • Whether you need documentation for an insurance claim

We can also advise on what to photograph and what information to note down before we arrive, if it’s safe for you to do so.

Get help securing your property (and the paperwork you’ll need)

If you need boarding up in Harrow or anywhere across HA0–HA9, we’ll secure the opening properly and provide clear documentation you can submit to your insurer.

Ready to get started? Call 020 4634 5472 or email us for a free, no-obligation quote.