Arra hivatkozva, hogy a ház megrongálódott, kárfelmérést kérünk.

It is a common formal expression meaning something like on the grounds that..., citing that..., or claiming that....

In this sentence, it introduces the reason being used to justify the request. It sounds especially natural in administrative, legal, or insurance-related language.

Hungarian often uses a demonstrative pronoun before a subordinate clause that explains it.

Here:

• hivatkozni valamire = to refer to / cite something
• the verb requires the -ra/-re case
• so the pronoun appears as arra
• then the hogy clause tells you what that arra refers to

So the structure is basically:

• arra hivatkozva = referring to that
• hogy a ház megrongálódott = namely, that the house was damaged

This is a very normal Hungarian pattern. Compare:

• Annak örülök, hogy eljöttél. = I’m glad that you came.
• Attól félek, hogy késő lesz. = I’m afraid that it will be late.

Hivatkozva is the -va/-ve adverbial participle form of hivatkozik.

Very roughly, this form can mean:

• while referring to
• by referring to
• having cited

In formal sentences like this, it often expresses the basis or justification for something.

So arra hivatkozva, hogy... is not a full finite verb by itself. It is a participial construction attached to the main clause.

Megrongálódott is the past tense, third-person singular form of megrongálódik.

Breakdown:

• rongál = damage
• megrongál = damage, cause damage
• megrongálódik = become damaged / get damaged
• megrongálódott = became damaged / got damaged / was damaged

So a ház megrongálódott means that the house ended up in a damaged state.

Hungarian usually prefers an active or intransitive verb instead of a true passive.

So where English often says:

• the house was damaged

Hungarian naturally says:

• a ház megrongálódott = the house got damaged / became damaged

If you wanted to express an unknown or unspecified outside agent, Hungarian could also say:

• megrongálták a házat = they damaged the house / the house was damaged

But megrongálódott is very natural when the focus is simply on the resulting damage.

It is the accusative form of kárfelmérés, a compound noun:

• kár = damage
• felmérés = assessment, survey, evaluation

So kárfelmérés means damage assessment.

Hungarian very often forms nouns like this as one word, especially in formal or technical vocabulary.

Because it is the direct object of kérünk.

In Hungarian, the direct object usually takes the accusative ending -t.

So:

• kárfelmérés = damage assessment
• kárfelmérést = damage assessment, as the thing being requested

That -t is one of the most important endings for learners to notice.

This is about Hungarian’s indefinite vs. definite conjugation.

Here the object is:

• kárfelmérést

It has no definite article, and it refers to a damage assessment in a general sense, not to one specific previously identified assessment. Because of that, Hungarian uses the indefinite verb form:

• kérünk = we request

If the object were definite, you would use the definite conjugation:

• A kárfelmérést kérjük. = We request the damage assessment.
• kérjük = definite form

This is a very common point of confusion for English speakers, because English verbs do not change this way.

Because a ház refers to a specific, identifiable house, while kárfelmérést is being used in a more general or institutional sense.

So:

• a ház = the house
• kárfelmérést = a damage assessment / damage assessment

In formal Hungarian, especially in requests and official language, leaving out the article before a noun like this is very common.

It also connects with the verb form:

• no article here -> kérünk
• definite article would tend to give -> kérjük

Hungarian word order is flexible and often reflects emphasis or information structure rather than a fixed English-style pattern.

In this sentence:

• Arra hivatkozva, hogy a ház megrongálódott sets up the reason
• kárfelmérést kérünk gives the main action

Putting kárfelmérést before kérünk is natural, especially in formal written style. It makes the requested item prominent.

A different order can also be possible, but it may sound less natural or may shift the emphasis.

The commas mark the inserted subordinate construction.

Structure:

• Arra hivatkozva, hogy a ház megrongálódott, = introductory subordinate phrase
• kárfelmérést kérünk. = main clause

The first comma appears before hogy, which is standard in Hungarian when introducing a subordinate clause.
The second comma closes that introductory clause before the main clause begins.

Yes, definitely.

It sounds like something you might read or write in:

• an insurance claim
• an official letter
• a legal or administrative document

Especially formal are:

• arra hivatkozva
• kárfelmérést kérünk

In everyday speech, someone might say something simpler, such as:

• Mivel megrongálódott a ház, szeretnénk kárfelmérést kérni.
• A ház megsérült, ezért kérünk egy kárfelmérést.

The original sentence is correct and natural, but clearly formal in tone.