How far back to keep documents?

Craftyscholar

I'm trying to sort out my paper files.

Can anyone tell me how far back I need to keep insurance documents (car, house etc.)?
Do I need more than the current year?
Thanks in anticipation.

I'm_With_Stupid

Are you a company, or are you just you?

mattymoo

Ideally 6 years after the policy expires. This is the time limit for someone to bring a claim against you for damage. The limit is 3 years if injuries are involved.

If you are a business you need to keep your EL Certificate (employers liability) for 40 years by law. This is a result of the problems tracing who insured firms in the 60's and 70's whose employees are now starting to suffer from asbestosis.
The rule applies even if you have no connection with asbestos. Nobody knows what the next killer will be. For a while MDF timber was suspected but that seems to have gone away now.

Craftyscholar

I'm_With_Stupid wrote:

Are you a company, or are you just you?

Sorry, just me. Normal household documents

Astaroth

At the end of the day you dont need to keep them legally any longer than their expiry date however someone has 6 years from the date of knowing (or 3 years for injury) to make a claim against you so hyperthetically at least you could injury a new born baby and they would have 21 years in which to make a claim against you (date of knowing for minors is considered their 18th b'day) and so the question is, if someone asked you today who your insurer was on the 8th Jan 1986 would you remember without the documents?

Obviously the probability is very low and so a couple of years is sufficient