Home Insurance - do I have a flat roof? (Silly question...)

joemcd

Hi guys!

I'm hoping you can help me with a query I have - seeing as my estate agents so far seem to have been no use at all!

I have moved in to a new flat recently and looking in to Home Insurance, but having trouble gathering quotes because of the question on comparison sites and on insurer's websites that ask: "What percentage of your roof is flat?"

I live on the 2nd floor of a 4 floor building, so obviously my flat has a flat roof, however the building itself does have a flat roof, and many insurers won't insure us because we are saying are roof is 100% flat. How on earth do people in these high-rise tower blocks get insurance, if the answer to this question is always 100% flat?

Anyone had this problem before? I don't really want to go to a specialist insurer who will hike up the price for this - surely I should be able to get cover from most insurance companies at a reasonable price, the flat isn't anything special, I guess it's just unlucky for me that the building itself has a flat roof.

Thanks, Joe

Lorian

Try barclays insurance IIRC (and I could be wrong) they were one company who were "flat roof friendly".

FlameCloud

Is the question about flat roofs in general or flat felt roofs? Assuming its a tower block its probably flat asphalt. Lots will if this is the case, but you'll probably have to phone them after looking on comparison sites.

himzle

Hi joemcd,

Perhaps you may find it more beneficial to use a broker as you are able to explain your circumstances much better.

The online comparison sites use a standard template, which unfortunately doesn't favour people in flats like yourself. They tend to work for standard off-the-shelf packages for houses, but they also lack the appropriate cover which you'd get if you were to go to a broker.

Flat roofs should not affect your quotation at all. You have a further 2 blocks above you who (if ever there was a problem) would be affected before any damage caused by roof problems would even get to you!

Hope this helps, if you need any help give me a shout!

himzle

ihateyes

Do you own the flat?
do you have shared liabilty on the roof if you own property?

VictorM_2

I would go to a broker and ask him to give you a quote for Block of Flats insurance - these sorts of policies would not care about a flat roof as it is standard on apartment buildings.

Flat roofs are far more likely to leak as they generally only last 10 - 15 years which is why insurers steer clear of them (generally if it is over 33% they will avoid you) most houses do not come anywhere near to this amount.

I have dealt with blocks of flats of all sorts over the years some with only 2 flats and some with hundreds and it is really a broker you should be speaking to to get the specialist insurance you need - also bear in mind this will be a joint policy with your neighbours (who I assume are not your family) which most standard household policies do not do anyway.

Most Block of Flat insurance would have the policyholder as the management company who look after the flats (for example 123 Oak Street Management Co) and would then have all the people living there as authorised parties (who would be able to make claims) or if there are a whole bunch of people living there then normally the director, secretary or treasurer would be named for the sake of simplicity.

Hope this helps

lollipopsarah

oo er,my first thought is that you don't have a roof, you have another flat above you.
I'm in a second floor flat which does have a flat roof and boy did we get a shock at how expensive the insurance was/is.
I guess I can only suggest phoning around for best quotes.
good luck
xx

VictorM_2

lollipopsarah wrote: »

oo er,my first thought is that you don't have a roof, you have another flat above you.
I'm in a second floor flat which does have a flat roof and boy did we get a shock at how expensive the insurance was/is.
I guess I can only suggest phoning around for best quotes.
good luck
xx

He benefits from the roof even if it is not directly above him. Generally everyone who benefits from the roof is equally responsible for the repair \ maintenance unless there is some sort of special agreement in place.

kingstreet

What cover are you trying to arrange?

I presume the building is insured by the freeholder, so you only need contents cover?

What significance does the roof have for contents insurance?

Are you a tenant, or have you purchased this property?

himzle

kingstreet wrote: »

What significance does the roof have for contents insurance?

The flat roof question would affect the contents insurance as the likeliness of a fault in a flat roof is more likely (compared to tile, slate concrete etc) if there was a roof damage claim chances are it'll be caused due to storm damage and therefore the contents claimed would be as a result of it.

kingstreet

I've just been in the Paymentshield Quote Site and run a quote. It doesn't ask about construction at the quote stage.

When you proceed to application, it asks only;-

"Is your property built in brick or stone with a slate or tiled roof?"

In the guidance notes to this question, it states "must be roofed with slate, tile, metal, asphalt or concrete" and does not ask, nor mention whether a pitched roof is required, or whether any roof area is flat.

IIRC the other home insurers we use, L&G, Select & Protect and Towergate also do not ask.

If the OP is using an aggregator, he may find more success visiting the insurers' sites directly, as the question may not be asked in every case.