Crack in wall but NO Subsidence Cover!!!!

pjjafc

I was with Saga up until Feb this year with subsidence cover but then took out a Directline policy and for some reason its not covered. Is there anything at all I can do as I might need to make a claim

huckster

pjjafc wrote: »

I was with Saga up until Feb this year with subsidence cover but then took out a Directline policy and for some reason its not covered. Is there anything at all I can do as I might need to make a claim

Why are Direct Line not covering subsidence? I think you need to provide more information about this, so forum members can help.

Have you tried to make a claim with Direct Line and did they arrange to inspect the crack?

pjjafc

Subsidence cover is not on the Directline policy as is an "added extra" which I should have selected according to Directline! So there is no cover for subsidence on the policy.

dunstonh

I knew some direct providers leave things off to keep the costs down and make them look cheaper but the option to leave off subsidence is a pretty major one. For most people it probably only saves pennies each month and would be false economy.

If its true that you don't have that cover then you dont have it. You wont be able to change that. You have effectively taken the decision to self insure and will need to use your savings to pay for the repairs. Cracks in walls are not always subsidence and the cost of repair is not always significant.

dacouch

I would be surprised if DL offer subsidence as an optional extra as it is a specific requirement for anyone who has a mortgage that they have subsidence cover.

Are you sure DL are offering it as an option or is it that the property had some kind of subsidence claim before and DL excluded it when you transferred to them

Quentin

Who has told you that subsidence is not covered? You have been mislead as it is covered as standard in an ordinary dl policy!

Covers fire, lightning, storm or flood (excluding fences and gates), theft, explosion, escape of water or oil, vandalism and subsidence

lisyloo

Can you confirm if this is a wall of the house or a garden wall?
That might explain the discrepancy.

Quentin

lisyloo wrote: »

Can you confirm if this is a wall of the house or a garden wall?
That might explain the discrepancy.

There is no discrepancy between Saga and dl regarding subsidence in garden walls. Both treat them the same (ie not covered unless the subsidence hit the house at the same time)

lisyloo

I didn't mean a discrepancy between the two firms.

I mean it might explain the mystery of why something very basic (subsidence) isn't covered and as you say some walls e.g. garden, are not covered on their own.

I think we need more info from the OP here.

pjjafc

Thanks for your replies..

Its under a landlords policy and is an optional extra. Basically a complete oversight on my part which obviously I regret!!. Looks like the crack has been there for 5 years + as was only discovered when we took some plaster off the walls as part of redecorating which we are currently doing. Could I go straight to Saga as they were the previous insurer as there is no way the crack appeared in the last 5 months??

huckster

You could give it a go. They may tell you to get a structural engineers report at your cost, before they are willing to look into it. Under the policy you would have had an excess for subs of probably £1000, so that is why they won't want to suffer any costs, getting the reports.