Help.... I think I am being conned.

[axil23]

I have a house which I rent out and got a call this morning that the plaster ceiling had falllen down. Attached are the pics. There were no reports of any damage prior to this to the ceiling.

What I find weird is that the ceiling has found its way to the edge of the bed when its in one corner of the room that it has broken. That is a good 5-6 ft away. Also the person went to hospital and claims he hurt his leg and is on crutches. There is no signs of any bruising to his legs.

Can any of you tell me if a ceiling can break like this? And can it then fall 6 ft away from where it was on the ceiling.

Here are some pics.

[SimonG]

It can come down and swing on the paper before it falls and there is a bit of weight in them old ceilings, but I think that somebody is seing the $$$$$$ out of an unfortunate situation.

Must be a bit of a soft tart.

[JCplumb]

I've seen big clumps of plaster clinging to the paper and sort of gliding down to the other side of the room as the paper comes away above it. Very very messy, but you'd have to be really unlucky to end up crippled from it...

[axil23]

It can come down and swing on the paper before it falls and there is a bit of weight in them old ceilings, but I think that somebody is seing the $$$$$$ out of an unfortunate situation.

Must be a bit of a soft tart.

Simon if you see the last picture you will see how far the ceiling has fallen. But if you see a different picture then the ceiling actually finishes well before where the edge of the bed starts. Can a ceiling fall that far?

[axil23]

Also doesn't the wall paper look like its been ripped off?

[SimonG]

Possibly, but then if it's swinging before it drops then it would'nt drop so hard. That picture of the bed looks a little 'constructed' imho

[SimonG]

In a real sherlock holmes moment you really need to see whats under the wallpaper on the bed, if it's clean then it's swung and dropped, if there's chunks of plaster it's been constructed imho

[axil23]

Possibly, but then if it's swinging before it drops then it would'nt drop so hard. That picture of the bed looks a little 'constructed' imho

They are claiming that the TV is broken and that their headboard is ripped. I fail to see how plaster can get that far (x on pic) and then also rip it in such a way (L shaped rip?)

[SimonG]

I would say that it didn't swing in those directions from how the paper is torn. So it hit them, the headboard and the telly. Very much doubt it. Trouble will be proving it.

[axil23]

I would say that it didn't swing in those directions from how the paper is torn. So it hit them, the headboard and the telly. Very much doubt it. Trouble will be proving it.

What can I do? Just wait or take proof as the repairs started today.

[snowhead]

Leave it to your Inurers to sort out, claims and false claims can be a minefield.

If they were in the bed when it fell, how did they manage to get out of it without most of the plaster falling on to the floor?
There's no impression of a body shape on the bed.

Should have used Solvite , the paper wouldn't have separated from the ceiling.

Looking at pic 1, the largest, heaviest piece, to the right, has ripped the paper off the ceiling the greatest distance, that would make sense.
The ceiling rose has caused the paper and plaster to separate, that makes sense.
The lamp has done well to survive.

[CES]

Do they have home insurance? I wouldnt pay out anything or admit liability. If they claim then put it into the hands of your insurance who will conduct their own investigations.

[JCplumb]

The contents of that bottle in your latest pic worry me more than anything else...
As for the trajectories of plaster chunks - you're not going to be able to disprove it. I'm a landlord and my insurance would cover this, does yours?

[axil23]

The contents of that bottle in your latest pic worry me more than anything else...
As for the trajectories of plaster chunks - you're not going to be able to disprove it. I'm a landlord and my insurance would cover this, does yours?

I am sure it does but do I need to call them now? I normally these small jobs on my own as claims be it one small one cause a major hike in renewal premium. + I have a very high excess so normally don't call in the smaller repairs.

[JCplumb]

It's not about the cost of the repairs, it's the TV, headboard and probable medical compensation that would push me to be ringing them.