A claim stabilisation report records the first visit a restoration or claims contractor makes to a home after an insured loss — most often an escape of water, but also flood, storm and fire. Its job is to show what was found, what was done to stop the damage getting worse, what is safe and what is not, and what has to happen next, so that the claims handler, loss adjuster and building surveyor can make decisions without visiting themselves. This template follows the visit in the order you work it: the property and its construction, the meters, the peril, a risk assessment for the site and the household, a row for each room you stabilised, the contents you dealt with, moisture readings, the damage classification and claim risk points, then separate action plans for the building and the contents. Answers that need attention are gathered into a summary of findings. It records the visit; it is not any insurer's own form, so attach theirs where it is required. You can fill it in here and download a finished PDF without creating an account.
What stabilisation is for
Stabilisation is the short first phase of a claim, usually the first few days. The aim is not to finish the repair but to stop the loss growing: get standing water out, remove wet or contaminated materials that would cause more harm if left, decide quickly which contents can be saved, and set up the air and equipment so secondary damage — mould, swelling, staining, rot — does not take hold. Done well, it is the cheapest money spent on the whole claim.
The report is what makes that work visible. People who will never see the property have to decide whether to approve drying, refer the claim to a surveyor, arrange alternative accommodation or question the cause. They can only do that if the report says clearly what was there, what you did and why.
The household and the site come first
Before any stripping out, record who lives at the property and anything that changes how you work: disability or mobility needs, elderly or frail occupants, young children, pets, and whether the work will restrict getting in and out. Then list the hazards you found — electrics, contaminated water, possible asbestos in an older building, working at height, hidden voids and sumps — and what controls you are putting in place.
Two hazards open follow-up questions because they stop work until they are answered: whether suspect asbestos has been sampled, and whether the electrics are safe to use. Either answer that leaves a risk open becomes a finding, so it reaches the claims handler rather than sitting in a note.
Room by room, then contents, then readings
Each room gets one row: which room, its size (and the smaller leg if it is L-shaped), whether kitchen units are damaged and how many, wide photos that let a stranger recognise it, how much of the floor or ceiling was hit, what you did there, and the drying equipment you left running. Speak while you walk, and the document writes itself: say "kitchen, three point two by four point one, extracted water, lifted the vinyl, two refrigerant dehumidifiers and three air movers" and the row fills in.
Contents you worked on are listed separately, one row per item or group of similar items, each naming its room: age, rough value, condition before the loss, your triage — restorable, worth attempting, or beyond economic repair — and what you did with it. Moisture readings work the same way: photograph a sketch with numbered points, then add one row per reading with its type, value, temperature and the dry reference it is measured against. Readings taken at the end of stabilisation are often more useful than those taken on day one.
Classifying the damage and flagging risk
The summary asks how serious the damage is — cosmetic, minor structural or major structural — and whether there were problems before the loss that could slow drying, such as damp or an old leak. It then asks the questions that usually decide whether a claim is referred for a surveyor's review: a flood or fire, alternative accommodation, a kitchen or bathroom out of use, four or more rooms, high-value finishes, or a vulnerable policyholder.
There is also a short set of points for the claims handler: signs the property may not be lived in, damage that does not fit the reported cause or timing, and contents damage you would not expect. Record what you saw and photograph it; do not draw conclusions. Each Yes is raised as something to look at, not an accusation.
Action plans that move the claim
The report ends with two action plans, one for the building and one for the contents. Each step names what needs doing, who is responsible and by when — asbestos results, an electrician, a decision on drying, a clean room for stored contents. Then book the next visit, name who is coming, and confirm the policyholder has been talked through the plan. If they have not, say why.
Common questions
What is a stabilisation visit on an insurance claim?
It is the first contractor visit after a loss such as an escape of water or fire, carried out within the first few days. The contractor makes the property safe, removes what would cause further damage, protects and triages contents, starts drying where needed, and reports back so the insurer can decide the next steps.
Who uses a claim stabilisation report?
Restoration and drying contractors, claims management firms and loss adjusters working on UK home insurance claims. The contractor fills it in on site; the claims handler, adjuster and building surveyor read it to decide what to approve.
Why are the rooms, contents and readings separate lists?
A stabilisation visit often covers several rooms, each with many items and several reading points. Keeping one list for rooms, one for contents and one for readings — each row naming its room — keeps the report readable and lets you add as many rows as the job needs.
What does beyond economic repair mean?
An item is beyond economic repair when restoring it would cost more than replacing it, or it cannot be restored at all. On this report it is one of three triage calls, alongside restorable and worth attempting. Photograph such items and keep them until the insurer agrees they can be disposed of.
Is this an insurer's official stabilisation form?
No. It records the visit in a clear, consistent way and produces a PDF you can send on. If your insurer or claims handler has its own form or reference format, complete that too and attach this report as the supporting record.