House Insurance - Garage outside property boundary?

Be_Happy

Hi

I wonder if anyone with knowledge of house insurance can give me advice on following:

When I take out house insurance, buildings cover, I always explain that we have a garage (one of a pair) that lies around 12 metres from the end of our garden. There is a public footpath and small shrubbery between our garden and the garage. The call centre agents always assure me this is covered.

However, on reading the policy booklet, it lists among the exclusions "Any structure not within the boundary of the home". This would seem to exclude the garage, and I feel that the people I speak to aren't really sure when they answer.

If the garage is not covered, how do I insure it separately?

huckster

Who owns the land that the garage is built on ? I would think that within your deeds it must state that the garage is included or did the previous owners buy the garage separately. I think you need to check on how the garage has become part of your property.

In this situation I would always suggest that you speak to Insurers. Get them to make a specific note on the policy about the garage, ask them to include a specific endorsement to confirm the garage being covered so it overides what the standard policy wording says and get it in writing.

Be_Happy

We own the land. As far as I can see from the Title Deeds the first owner of the house in 1979 bought the land and built the garage on it. We have the Deeds for it.

I know that in the past I've been asked by Insurers if we can see the garage from the house and when told "yes" say this is OK, but I can't remember whether the present insurer asked this (this is our second year with the company).

My first action would have been to phone the Insurer and ask, but I'm concerned about getting someone's guess again.

My main concern is not about damage to the garage itself (value around £2000) but the possibility of any public liability that could somehow happen.

Thanks for your suggestion of getting it noted on the policy.

If I can find an e-mail contact address, I'll put the query in writing rather than phone. We're off on holiday at the weekend, so I'll leave it until we come back.