Insurance Claim after Roof Fire/Partial Collapse

S_Swede

I think this is the correct forum for this issue, apologies if not the case.

Dear all,

I'm halfway through purchasing an end-terrace Victorian house (offer accepted, mortgage offered paperwork progressing etc.) and received word from the vendor's estate agent that the house at the far end of the 3 terraces had had a boiler explosion, roof caught fire and spread through the roof of the middle house to the inner side of the one we intend to buy. The roof subsequently partially collapsed.

We drove past yesterday and the houses are fenced off, two skips are outside. The middle house seems to have it quite bad with the whole of their roof having collapsed in.

After inital worries, it's actually a blessing in disguise as a lot of the work that the survey flagged up was centred on the part of the house that needs sorting.

Roof ventilation, boiler/shower ventilation (boiler in bathroom upstairs), chimney pointing renewal and a general refurb of the bathroom were all on the cards.

Now that it roof has collapsed into the bathroom, all of this appears as though it will need to be done, so the building can be handed back to the vendor in a state compliant with current regs and general liveability.


I'm just wondering how long this might take, as I have no idea having never come across anything like this before!

It is being sorted by the vendor's insurance as we haven't signed anything yet but I'm looking for the mechanics of it really: Time, whether her insurance will need to claim off the insurance company from the house where the fire originated etc. What sort of bathroom fit/boiler the insurance company will pay out for and whether we can influence this by being willing to pay the difference for better quality items etc.

Hopefully someone can give us a heads up,

many thanks

SplanK

cant really advise on how long it will take - but if it was me - i would hold off doing anything else until the repairs are done, so then you can arrange a 2nd inspection and have another look to ensure that things are all done and not rushed just to get the sale!