Insuring an 1802 wreck!

[meljones35]

Better half walked in and said 'what happens if house falls down? Are we insured?'
Well we were and I cancelled it. We had unoccupied building insurance but on reading small print house had to have no structural defects. Ours has loads! I cant find an insurance against the house falling down, catching fire or damaging adjoined property.
Any ideas?

And thanks for info on light switches which was also on another thread. Very helpful. When I've mastered how I will put up some pics. of house.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

I think you'll be unlikely.

We had some outbuildings fall down, not unexpectedly. It was not deemed to be an "insurable peril".

Insurance is designed and sold to cover you for unlikely and unexpected events - fire, flood, earthquake, bus driving through your house, etc.

If you know you have serious defects that make the likelihood of collapse much greater, then I doubt an insurance company will cover you for this (or the premiums will be linked to the increased risk) as it will present an unacceptable risk to the "risk pool" of insured properties.

Put yourself in their position - would you? If not, I doubt anyone else will.

Remember however that cancelling your insurance may invalidate any mortgage on it, and you also lose cover for the insurable perils listed above.

 

[Flyfisher]

I cant find an insurance against the house falling down,

I know the feeling.
If only such policies existed I'd be sunning myself on a tropical beach while the insurance company paid for all the repairs to our house**. :wink:

But, as FW rightly points out, there are many other good reasons for having house insurance so be very careful about cancelling all the other cover that is part of most household policies.



** More likely, given the state of the house, I wouldn't be able to afford such a policy in the first place!

 

[meljones35]

Luckily we do not have a mortgage. House was bought at auction; structural engineer confirmed cracks were due to drainage problems and rotten lintels.
It is not going to fall down, but we would have to say there were no cracks to get insurance. Obviously can't lie as would get caught out in event of a claim!
Fingers crossed a juggernaut doesnt hit it.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Are you insured against theft?

We found it very difficult to get insurance when we really went into all the details of the property. Solution - don't go into details! I remember one company in particular very concerned about the proximity of trees. I'm sure like you we aren't insured against collapse but I don't lose any sleep over it and the NFU were certainly very good about paying up for our burglary. It is a nightmare with old buildings- good luck.

 

[skier-hughes]

Our insurers of our last house, 3 bed semi kicked up a fuss about a tree that was maybe 20 yards from the house, NFU haven't asked about the maybe 30 trees that are all that close Even though a pear tree fell through the utility roof just before we bought it :roll:

 

[tobydog]

I'm with NFU but looked at the Thatched Owners Group insurance for an alternative quote. They asked about trees, how far they were from the house and how tall they were. When I told them they came back with a similar premium but said they would exclude cover for subsidence until I had a professional tree surgeon assess the situation and give the all clear. Couldn't be bothered so still with NFU.

 

[meljones35]

We do not live in it so there is nothing to steal and there are no trees near the house. Might try the two companies mentioned here, thanks. Has anyone tried the company this site recommends?

 

[Penners]

I think you'll be unlikely.

Well I'm fairly unlikely myself. Nevertheless, due to some freak set of circumstances I do exist (or I did last time I looked).

Mel - I've heard good reports of NFU for unusual buildings cover. As I understand it hey have the distinct advantage that you can talk to a local agent who will discuss your particular circumstances and needs.

I haven't used them myself but my daughter has.

 

[biffvernon]

Put yourself in their position - would you?

Clearly insurance companies earn their profits by selling insurance against extremely unlikely events. That's why you can't get flood insurance on a house that might flood but can get it in a place where no water can get to. But why would you want to buy insurance then?

Have you ever heard of an insurance company saying, "you don't need flood insurance - you're at the top of the hill"?

 

[Jellyfire]

We use NFU, we're thatched so not the easiest to find cover, I recently made a claim over a stolen laptop, and they were incredibly helpful and paid out immediately. It definitely gave me confidence in them to keep my insurance with them
In case of more serious circumstances, so I would also recommend them

 

[MatthewC]

If it's such a wreck that it's uninhabitable, the the NFU won't insure it - that was their policy when I tried them in Oct 2010. I got it insured (through the LPOC) with Lark Insurance for certain perils only such as (IIRC) arson. They widened the cover as we did work like fix the roof. Everything else was at our risk (and it wasn't really secure until we moved in).

 

[FamilyWiggs]

I think you'll be unlikely.

Well I'm fairly unlikely myself. Nevertheless, due to some freak set of circumstances I do exist (or I did last time I looked).

Can you be so sure? Maybe you are just a Cartesian construct I conjor up to amuse myself?

 

[biffvernon]

We use a small but perfectly formed outfit called NatureSave http://www.naturesave.co.uk/

When you phone them up with an awkward question the phone gets answered by a human being who tends to say something like, "Oh, I've no idea but Jane will know. She's just pooped out for a sandwich but I'll get her to phone you back", and ten minutes later she does, and does.

 

[Flyfisher]

"Protecting You and the Environment since 1993"

"Annual Travel Insurance
Worldwide cover for you and your family – no limit on the number of trips per year."

Hmm.

 

[meljones35]

Thanks all. Will try those. Yes it is uninhabitable at present except for one room. We are working our way down. Roof at back done, new windows being made and roof at front will be done next. Was a ten year project and suddenly realised two and a half years had gone by and we hadn't started! Due to move in in 2020!

 

[FamilyWiggs]

:lol:

 

[meljones35]

Not brill at technology, how do I load photos on to here?

 

[Harry remmington]

My heap is 600 years old and insured on line with tha AA.
Wooden frames and brick.
Apart from the rebuild value and contents I have never been asked anything specific.....I often wonder what would happen if there was anything catastrophic.

 

[skier-hughes]

below the white reply box you'll see upload attachement tab, click on this and then browse for your picture. They need to be small in size, so you may need to resize them first.