If you suffered criminal damage or loss during any of the recent riots, you must firstly make a claim via your insurance company.  However, if all or part of your insurance claim is rejected, you may be able to submit an RCA (Riot Compensation Act) claim.

If you are the owner of a property affected by a riot, you can claim for damages to the building’s structure.  If you are a tenant/occupier of the property, you can claim for damaged or stolen contents.

You can also claim for damaged or stolen:

• Business items stored in a vehicle
• Stock in trade vehicles
• Underinsured vehicles
  
  Please note that you cannot make a claim for personal items that were outside a building, loss of trade or rent, or personal injury (personal injury should be dealt with via the CICA (Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority).

What to do

1. Report the crime to the police.
2. Make a claim with your insurance company if your damaged or stolen property is insured.
3. If you are not insured or your insurance company confirm you are underinsured, visit the Gov website to complete the RCA claim form.
4. Send your claim to the claims authority in the area that the riot happened.
5. Send supporting documentation to the claims authority

Deadlines

You must make your claim with via the RCA within 42 days from the date the riot ended.  If you made a claim via your insurance and some or all of it was declined, you must lodge your RCA claim within 42 days from the date your insurance company declined your claim.

Supporting Evidence

When making your claim, you will be required to provide supporting evidence, including:

• receipts
• purchase invoices
• bank statements
• financial records
• photographs
• building estimates
• surveyor’s reports
• insurance correspondence
• loss adjustor records

Further evidence can be submitted seperately but must be done within 90 days from the date you submitted your claim to the RCA.

Further Information

• The information on this page and more can be found on the Gov website.
• Guidance for claimants the Riot Compensation, including the claim form can be found here.

Share your experience with us

If you have been affected by the riots, whether directly or indirectly, we’d like to hear from you. Contact media@bira.co.uk.