Aviva completes acquisition of DisasterCare Group
What's the deal? Aviva has completed its acquisition of the DisasterCare Group, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary. The deal includes CJN Holdings Limited, the parent company of Disaster Care Limited and The Flood School Limited — the UK's leading training provider for flood and water damage restoration.
DisasterCare is a specialist business that connects insurers and customers with local disaster recovery and restoration suppliers. It provides services such as drying, cleaning, strip-out, and reinstatement to stabilise homes and businesses after events like fires or flooding.
Why now? Aviva and DisasterCare have a longstanding working relationship, and the acquisition formalises what was already a close partnership. The insurer wants to streamline the appointment of recovery specialists, accelerate first contact with customers, and reduce response times — ultimately cutting property claims costs by mitigating further damage early.
The move mirrors what Aviva already does in motor claims, where it runs a wholly-owned network of vehicle repair centres to manage the process end to end.
What could go wrong? Integrating a specialist supplier network into a large insurer is tricky. DisasterCare's model relies on regional independent experts, and folding them into a corporate structure risks disrupting relationships or reducing flexibility. There's also the question of whether other insurers that use DisasterCare's services will continue to do so now that it sits inside a competitor.
The signal: Large insurers are increasingly bringing claims services in-house rather than outsourcing them. By owning the disaster recovery supply chain, Aviva gains more control over customer experience, cost, and speed — three factors that matter enormously in property claims, where delays compound damage and frustration.
"By bringing DisasterCare into the Aviva group, we are strengthening our ability to support customers quickly and effectively, while continuing to work with trusted local experts," said Steve Bridger, chief claims officer for Aviva's UK general insurance division.
The acquisition also gives Aviva direct ownership of The Flood School, which trains professionals in flood prevention, mitigation, and recovery. Aviva plans to extend access to this expertise to its broker partners, supporting broader flood resilience efforts across the UK.
Read more: webwire.com
