Theft from communal stair not covered by contents insurance?

victoir_2

My bike was stolen from the communal stair of my tenement flat, and my insurance company say that this is not covered by my contents insurance, as it's not within the boundary of my property. However, I thought that I jointly owned that area with the other occupiers of the stair. Also, the policy also says:

"£5,000 for theft of contents which are stored in garages or outbuildings at your home."

The stair is locked by an entry system, so is at least as secure as any outbuilding or garage. Anyone think I've got a case? Or is it a no-hoper?

Woby_Tide

it's a tough one, they'll probably squirm out of it by saying that if it was locked in outbuildings or garage then you'd have sole access, as it is you are technically giving access to the bike to all other residents so it is not 'secure' to their definition

Astaroth

Check the cycle part of your policy. I know with all the ones I have had that bikes are covered where ever they are as long as they were locked up to something at the time... this assumes that you have of cause taken the cycle cover option.

victoir_2

Thanks for that. What I haven't done is check that the buildings insurance will pay to get the metal ballustrade (as they cut through it to remove the bike) replaced. Hope so, as I've no idea how much a blacksmith will charge....

courtjester

The insurers may be looking at this on the basis that unless there was evidence of a forced entry to the building, then the cycle may as well have been left in the garden. You don't say how the thieves got in - if someone let them in or was potentially another occupant of the building... then this is clearly not as secure as a locked outbuilding to which only you have access.

It might help your case to tell the insurers about the damage to the balustrade required to remove the cycle, which can be regarded as virtually equal importance as a forced entry to the building, on the basis that the thieves were not able to simply walk in an walk out with the goods. Although there were possibly no signs of forced entry (entryphone systems can be overcome without evidence of being broken into), this doesn't mean that the thieves did not force an entry - even minimal force is still force and I am reasonably certain that picking a lock without breaking it is regarded as 'forcible entry'.