QuestGates creates arboricultural liability hub

Specialist loss adjuster QuestGates has created a central hub for the management of tree root liability claims within its Northampton office.

QuestGates said it has experienced a dramatic increase over the past 18 months in the volume of new cases involving the defence of arboricultural liability claims arising from subsidence and direct tree root action causing third-party property damage.

The business appointed Jeremy Carpenter, a qualified surveyor and loss adjuster with almost 15 years of specialist experience, to develop a new service focused on these types of claims in 2017.

Stuart Lansdown, divisional director for third-party services at QuestGates, said: “While there’s no doubt last year’s long, dry summer has led to an increase in tree root liability cases from our existing client base, Jeremy has done a great job developing our offering and attracting further support from both insurers and the local authority market.”

“Tree root liability defence is a very specific and niche area, and we’re looking to build on Jeremy’s success by creating a network of licensed adjusters working under his direction and supported by a dedicated concierge service.”

QuestGates has recruited Tom McLaren to lead the concierge team supporting the arboricultural liability hub. The business will also invest in training him to become a fully qualified adjuster in this specialist area.

Lansdown concluded: “We’re creating a real centre of excellence in Northampton for specialist third-party damage claims. Given its central location and broad range of specialist staff, it is the logical home for our arboricultural liability hub in addition to the services we already provide for third party claims within the motor, rail, liability and commercial property sectors.”

In June, QuestGates managing director Chris Hall was named as a non-executive director of vrs Adjusters.

The appointment followed QuestGates being selected as the UK and Ireland representative for vrs Adjusters to the international and corporate claims market.

Mark Dugdale