Insuring wrought iron railings

waterways_3

Does anyone know of an insurance company who will insure wrought iron railings with or without added home/buildings/contents insurance. Our current insurer, Zurich, looked into the possibilty for a few days and then decided they could not insure them.

dacouch

Are they within the boundaries of your home? Or is it part of a block of flats eg owned by a residents association?

waterways_3

They are around the boundary of our home.

bizywizy

oh my

I never thought about insuring them. This has been a dream that I wanted to put around my home -

will be interested if you find this out.

dacouch

This makes me laugh, you are no doubt insured with them direct and have spoken to one of their call centre staff who do not understand their own policy (Which is not at all unusual with Insurance Company Call Centre Staff)

This is taken from their policy booklet
Buildings are:

• the main structure of your home at the address shown in your schedule, including its permanent or soon-to-be fitted fixtures and fittings if they are your property;
• domestic outbuildings, private garages, including garages on nearby sites that form part of your home;
• ornamental ponds or fountains, swimming pools and tennis courts;
• central-heating fuel tanks, cesspits and septic tanks;
• fences, gates, hedges, lampposts, railings and walls;
• drives, paths, patios and terraces;

but not satellite television-receiving equipment or television and radio aerials.
The above is the definition of what their building policy defines as being the "Building" which is basically what they are covering. So the wrought iron railings will be covered under your building section (Assuming you have building cover) for the same things as your House is eg fire, theft etc
You should note that if the railings are damaged by storm or flood they will only cover them if the building is damaged at the same time which is listed here providing you have selected the "extra cover" although I doubt a storm would damage the railings

xtra cover

Storm or flood - We cover loss or damage by storm or flood to fences, gates, hedges or railings, at the home as long as the main structure of your home, private garages or domestic outbuildings are damaged at the same time by the same cause.
The link to their policy wording (Which is one of the easiest of all Insurers to read and understand is here
http://www.zurichinsurance.co.uk/insurance/homeinsurance/buildings/policywording.htm

Ring Zurich back up and ask to speak to a superviser who hopefully will understand their policy wording a bit better than the person you spoke to!!!

P.S If the railings were expensive it might be worth increasing your building sum insured to take their replacement cost into account.

I hope this helps

waterways_3

Two houses on our estate have had them stolen in the last 6 months, presumably for scrap metal as they do not bother to take the nuts and bolts to use them again. Alternatively, good ideas to secure them would be appreciated. Thinking of going out with the super glue!

waterways_3

Thanks for that, I will try again, although I believe the wording on our documentation states "Fences, gates, hedges" and the word railings is not included which is why we contacted them in the first place. I will double check and also check the link and put them on the spot. The house is new so the railings were included and we are not sure of the value, only that they quoted £250 for a single gate so don't fancy the expense of the 20 panels! Thanks again for your time.

dacouch

I would be surprised if your policy wording does not include railings as Zurich are a leading Insurer (I don't work for them, I'm a broker hence why I know their policy better than they do!). Railings are not uncommon so most insurers cover them hence why my original question was were they within the boundary of your home.

If you get your policy booklet out the definition of what they class as "Building" will be in the first few pages, its actually quite easy to find and understand.

Cheers

mig1

I believe NIG will ensure fencing and stuff as a boundary of the property. If you need to replace damaged railings try http://www.forestmetals.co.uk we had our gate damaged and they supplied the parts very cheaply and fast. Certainly cheaper than the loss of the no claims bonus.:rotfl: