Happy family make it home in time for Christmas

When Victoria, Hyde’s Surveying Lead, heard that a family dog had caused a fire in a home in Chichester, she was determined that the family would be back in their home in time for Christmas. Victoria tells us more:

“Early on Wednesday 17 December, I received a report from Chichester District Council letting me know there had been a fire at one of our properties.

“I immediately contacted our customer to check on her and her family’s welfare and to find out how the fire started. Sandra* told me that the fire had been started by the family dog, who had knocked something onto the cooker.

“The family were in shock, but thankfully uninjured. However, they had to leave their home while repairs and an investigation were carried out. I could also see that the cooker was ruined. Sandra didn’t have insurance, so it was a priority to arrange for a new cooker to be in place, ready for when the family returned home.

“And, the pressure was on to get the repairs done quickly - we wanted to do everything we could to make sure that the family were back in their home for Christmas.”

Next steps

“A colleague from our Property Maintenance team immediately visited the home to fit a key safe. Sandra and her family were booked into a hotel and a Hyde surveyor completed an emergency inspection.

“Soot started to be cleaned that weekend and in the days before Christmas, electrical works were carried out and a new cooker was fitted. Our Head of Property Maintenance even arranged for a toaster and kettle to be delivered to the family. The family finally returned home in time for Christmas Day.

“Thanks to everybody for their help – particularly our cleaning contractor who moved work around and made this a priority. This is a great example of how everyone pulling together, and working in such a quick time frame, could help get a family back at home in time for Christmas.”

*Not our customer’s real name.