Included in some settlement offers is retention. Retention is an amount of money held back by the insurance company until the work is completed. There is usually a date that this must be done by.
You must keep invoices of all the work carried out so that the insurance company can verify that you employed registered contractors. Insurers will only pay VAT on receipt of a VAT invoice complete with a valid VAT number. Your invoices must be the same or over the total settlement offer (amount before excess is taken off) in order to receive your payment.
Once the works are completed by the stipulated date, the corresponding invoices provided and the insurance company satisfied that the works are completed to the requested standard they then will release the retention.
The insurance company may also request photographs of the completed works and/or an inspection of the property. This is completely within their rights and once you have carried out the works as stated you will have nothing to worry about!