--- title: "Clearing the smoke: How we helped a homeowner recover from a neighbour's fire" description: When Olly’s home was affected by extensive smoke damage, he didn’t know where to turn. Thankfully, he found us and could soon get back on track. image: https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/hubfs/AIS%20Marsden%20-%20Photos-10-2-1.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/blog/clearing-the-smoke-how-we-helped-a-homeowner-recover-from-a-neighbours-fire#main-content) [![AIR-Logo-vector-trans](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/AIR-Logo-vector-trans.webp?width=170&height=120&name=AIR-Logo-vector-trans.webp) ![AIR-Logo-vector-trans](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/AIR-Logo-vector-trans.webp?width=170&height=120&name=AIR-Logo-vector-trans.webp)](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk) - [About us](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/about-us) - Show submenu for What we help with What we help with - [Flood damage repairs](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/flood-repairs) - [Fire & smoke damage repairs](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/smoke-fire) - [Water damage repairs](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/water-damage-repairs) - 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[For Landlords](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/blog/tag/for-landlords) - [For Homeowners](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/blog/tag/for-homeowners) - [Water Leaks](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/blog/tag/water-leaks) - [Fire & Smoke Damage](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/blog/tag/fire-smoke-damage) - [Flooding](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/blog/tag/flooding) - [News](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/blog/tag/news) - [Storm Damage](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/blog/tag/storm-damage) - [Impact Damage](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/blog/tag/impact-damage) # Clearing the smoke: How we helped a homeowner recover from a neighbour's fire ![Joanne Ginty](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Joanne/Joanne%20Ginty-4-1.webp?width=120&height=120&name=Joanne%20Ginty-4-1.webp) by [Joanne Ginty](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/blog/author/joanne-ginty) 11/7/25, 10:00 AM When Olly Paul suffered extensive smoke damage at his home from a fire in the bakery downstairs, he didn’t know where to turn. Thankfully, his insurance broker put him in touch with a trusted loss assessor, Michael Stitt, who knew exactly who to bring on board. “I own a two-storey home above a bakery, which unfortunately suffered a fire at the end of last year,” explains Olly. “My kitchen is directly above theirs, so that room was definitely the hardest hit — especially the flooring.   “As soon as the fire had been put out, I called my insurance broker to ask about the next steps. He recommended a loss assessor, who visited the property shortly afterwards to assess the damage. When he mentioned needing to gather some repair quotes to present to the insurer, I wasn’t sure where to start. Thankfully, he introduced Action Insurance Repair and invited them to prepare a scope of work and quote for the repairs, and I’m so glad he did. “Within 48 hours, Joanne was at the property conducting a survey, which was sent to my assessor. He dealt with everything for me and I didn’t have to worry about a thing — they took care of everything. “Before Joanne and her team could get to work, a restoration company came in and ran a de-odorising treatment, which worked to an extent but there was still a heavy smell of smoke. So when it was time for the repairs, the Action Insurance Repair team made sure to clean beneath all the floorboards before they got to work replacing everything.” ## “I don’t know what I would have done without Joanne and the team — they were absolutely brilliant to deal with from start to finish.”   “I had the same laminate flooring running through from my kitchen, down the hallway, and straight through into the lounge. This meant having to remove the skirting boards, which then affected the wall decorations too, so it ended up being a complete rework of the whole downstairs. “Unfortunately, the fire had caused a lot of heavy smoke, and it got everywhere. It travelled upstairs and caused damage in second-storey rooms. It got into the ceiling in the kitchen and damaged all the electrical work, so all that had to be replaced with new lighting. It even got into the boiler, so we had to replace the boiler, too.  [![AIS Marsden - Photos-66-2](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/AIS%20Marsden%20-%20Photos-66-2.jpg?width=2000&name=AIS%20Marsden%20-%20Photos-66-2.jpg)](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/hubfs/AIS%20Marsden%20-%20Photos-66-2.jpg) [![AIS Marsden - Photos-15-2](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/AIS%20Marsden%20-%20Photos-15-2.jpg?width=2000&height=1331&name=AIS%20Marsden%20-%20Photos-15-2.jpg)](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/hubfs/AIS%20Marsden%20-%20Photos-15-2.jpg) [![AIS Marsden - Photos-21-2](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/AIS%20Marsden%20-%20Photos-21-2.jpg?width=2000&height=1330&name=AIS%20Marsden%20-%20Photos-21-2.jpg)](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/hubfs/AIS%20Marsden%20-%20Photos-21-2.jpg) [![AIS Marsden - Photos-25-2](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/AIS%20Marsden%20-%20Photos-25-2.jpg?width=2000&height=1331&name=AIS%20Marsden%20-%20Photos-25-2.jpg)](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/hubfs/AIS%20Marsden%20-%20Photos-25-2.jpg) [![AIS Marsden - Photos-45-2](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/AIS%20Marsden%20-%20Photos-45-2.jpg?width=2000&height=1332&name=AIS%20Marsden%20-%20Photos-45-2.jpg)](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/hubfs/AIS%20Marsden%20-%20Photos-45-2.jpg) [![AIS Marsden - Photos-34-2](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/AIS%20Marsden%20-%20Photos-34-2.jpg?width=2000&height=1331&name=AIS%20Marsden%20-%20Photos-34-2.jpg)](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/hubfs/AIS%20Marsden%20-%20Photos-34-2.jpg)   “I lived in alternative accommodation for around six months while the claim was being sorted and to allow for all the repair work. I was so thrilled when I moved back in and saw how good a job Joanne and the team had done. The standard of work was excellent. They replaced all the kitchen with modern fixtures and fittings, redecorated all the upstairs rooms, and replaced all the damaged flooring. And I barely had to get involved, aside from picking out colours and finishes for things.  “I’m so thankful to my insurance broker and loss assessor for putting me in touch with Action Insurance Repair. I don’t know what I would have done without Joanne and the team — they were absolutely brilliant to deal with from start to finish.” [![Need our help? Get free loss assessing, a reliable building quote, and expert guidance.  ](https://hubspot-no-cache-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/146255623/interactive-297199360244.png)](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLI3Zg0%2F%2BwIf2nDfvMDMO1qw8KwX%2Bvnc9yyLmMEW5oOR7Mv7yPRkZkZM77DrNdPbC1nyhEY90Xi7iGg5XgyE%2Fhg7%2FzjBYoC4dv3Wng4NyGvgOGLcHailsqz8nA9eCMFDbyL9S%2BraaiwyfCdUEuxWpSQU0%2FWbN%2F2eDgO43cutnbchR1kozfS5EvvrBi4dhST6ENbG&webInteractiveContentId=297199360244&portalId=146255623) **Category:** [Client Stories](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/blog/tag/client-stories) ![Joanne Ginty](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Joanne/Joanne%20Ginty-4-1.webp?width=120&height=120&name=Joanne%20Ginty-4-1.webp) Post by [Joanne Ginty](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/blog/author/joanne-ginty) 11/7/25, 10:00 AM Founder and director, Joanne has been living and breathing insurance repairs and property reinstatement for over twenty years. She’s personally involved in each and every project we take on to make sure the repairs are completed to spec and the service you receive is outstanding. ![AIR Newsletter-1](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/AIR%20Newsletter-1.webp?width=250&height=222&name=AIR%20Newsletter-1.webp) ### Sign up to our newsletter Shared quarterly, the AIR newsletter is packed with customer stories, industry news, and helpful advice that you can action to prevent insurance repair headaches for you and/or your clients. ![action-insurance-repair-logo-favicon](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/hubfs/action-insurance-repair-logo-favicon.webp) - - - - - [Client stories](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/see-our-work-action-insurance-repair) - [About us](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/about-us) - [Blog](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/blog) - [Pricing](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/pricing) - [Contact us](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/contact) - What we help with - [Flood repairs](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/flood-repairs) - [Fire & smoke repairs](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/smoke-fire) - [Water damage repairs](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/water-damage-repairs) - [Storms damage repairs](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/storm-damage-repairs) - [Impact & accidental damage repairs](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/impact-accidental-damage-repairs) - [Malicious damage repairs](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/malicious-damage-repairs) - Who we work with - [Homeowners](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/homeowners) - [Commercial property owners](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/commercial-property) - [Letting agents](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/letting-agents) - [Landlords](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/landlords) - [Insurance brokers](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/insurance-brokers) - [Leak detection companies](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/leak-detection) - [Emergency plumbers](https://www.actioninsurancerepair.co.uk/emergency-plumbers) ©2026 Action Insurance Repair. 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