Insurance company wont insure me because of woodworm

vertex

Hi. The property dates back to 18 century and is 60% cob/40% stone walls. Ive been in it a few times and it feels very dry and well maintained (although I'm obviously no expert in these matters!).

Since my last post, I have been round to the neighbouring property (where they have taken the skirting board off). Its very much a different scenario - the wall looks slightly buckled (one of the builders picked up on this) where its taking the strain due to the rotten foot posts in the party wall. At the moment there's noone living there (its inhabitable), the owner lives in a nearby village. He bought it and started to gut the place and then lost interest. I presume he has got insurance, so should his side collapse and takes mine with it, I should be able to claim from his insurance shouldn't I?

The 2 properties are completely different in regards to the condition. Mine is dry, well maintained and looks/feels solid. Next door has no carpets, rotten floorboards all over the place and has been completely gutted. The rendering is falling off the exterior wall and the whole place feel dank and dark. The main problem is both properties are attached!

What do you think - if next door collapses and takes mine with it, I can just claim off their insurance? Also, do walls just collapse? Surely they take month or years to start showing signs of collapsing. In which case we should have plenty of notice that something must be done.

Quentin

You can't rely on a neighbour to pay for any damage done to your home (he is only liable if you can prove he has been negligent, and even then he needs to be either insured or have the funds to pay).

So keep your insurance cover up to date!

huckster

vertex wrote: »

Hi. The property dates back to 18 century and is 60% cob/40% stone walls.

OP sorry, but the more information you reveal, the more I am beggining to think your heart is ruling your head. You appear to have obviously fallen in love with the house and are therefore not thinking clearly.

You would be absolutely mad, not to arrange further checks on the property and to take advice. In the first post, a Home Buyers report was mentioned. Following the information you have obtained about next door and the bowing wall, I think you need to speak to the surveyor who provided that report.

What if the house next door is not subject to any works for say, the next 5 years and there is a gradual decay affecting your house. I would suggest that you talk to your solicitor about this, so you are informed about the situation. You or current owner, may be able to force the owner next door to complete works i.e. party wall act.

In regard to the age and construction, not all Insurers will be able to cover the house. You therefore need to speak to Insurers or broker to confirm the full details, so that they can quote on the correct basis.

vertex

Huckster: You are entirely correct, I am letting my heart rule. Ive spent a long time finding a house which - although obviously is not my dream house - a house that I can see myself in for the next few years. The solictor keeps piling on charges (so Im reluctant to even phone him), and Ive already spent a lot to get this far. Im concerned that if I get a surveyor in, they can lift a few carpets and whatever, but they cant see inside the wall to gauge the actual state it is in. Next door only found this out becasue they took the skirting board off. I've been trying to get hold of next door to see what they're current position is, but to no avail.

I am confident I can get insurance. Ive phoned 2 more insurance companies that deal with older properties, and they've both said that - from what Ive told them about the rotten posts and woodworm - that this is not an insurance problem, whereas flooding or subsidence obviously is.

I'm in a quandry and I know I may just have to walk away.

huckster

Speak to the surveyor who did the Home Buyers report. As you have spent money on the report, you are entitled to a certain amount of come back about the integrity of the report. The surveyor might even be prepared to revisit the property for no additional charge.