Police broke down my front door - who pays?

ElLast

Hi guys
New to this forum so I hope I have posted in the right place!

I've been suffering with ill health for quite a while now and live by myself in South West London. Recently, I decided to go and stay with my parents in the West Country while I recouperated.

The other day my Dad went to my property to check it was OK, pick up post etc and found that the police had forced entry to my property by breaking the door down. Apparently,the neighbours were worried about me as they were aware I was unwell and they hadn't heard anything from me for a few weeks, so they called the police.

While I am grateful for their concern, I am now left with a busted front door which is going to need replacing and new locks etc.

Who is responsible for paying for this replacement? The police left details of the statute under which they gained access to the property, which I am fine with, however I could be saddled with a hefty bill for not doing anything at all! Should the police pay, or should I be looking to my insurance company? (I'm not even sure if they would cover this type of cost?!)

Does anyone have experience of this, or have any ideas where I can start finding out who is responsible, numbers to call etc.

Many thanks in advance

JimmyTheWig

Didn't want to read and run, but I really don't know.
Seems harsh for you to have to foot the bill, but given that everyone else did what they did with the best intensions I'm not convinced there is anyone else who should pay for it.

Could try your home insurance company, but I'm not overly confident.


As an aside, you say you have been away from home for some time. What's the deal with your home insurance about this? Most, I believe, require you to let them know if you are away for a prolonged period.

ElLast

Thanks for the reply. Basically as my flat is a leasehold I don't think I will covered under my own personal insurance, which is contents only. It will either be under the buildings insurance (which I pay a proportion of to the freeholder), the police pay it, or I pay the whole thing outright :mad:

Thanks for the heads up on letting the insurers know however, I might give them a bell to check.

HappyMJ

ElLast wrote: »

Hi guys
New to this forum so I hope I have posted in the right place!

I've been suffering with ill health for quite a while now and live by myself in South West London. Recently, I decided to go and stay with my parents in the West Country while I recouperated.

The other day my Dad went to my property to check it was OK, pick up post etc and found that the police had forced entry to my property by breaking the door down. Apparently,the neighbours were worried about me as they were aware I was unwell and they hadn't heard anything from me for a few weeks, so they called the police.

While I am grateful for their concern, I am now left with a busted front door which is going to need replacing and new locks etc.

Who is responsible for paying for this replacement? The police left details of the statute under which they gained access to the property, which I am fine with, however I could be saddled with a hefty bill for not doing anything at all! Should the police pay, or should I be looking to my insurance company? (I'm not even sure if they would cover this type of cost?!)

Does anyone have experience of this, or have any ideas where I can start finding out who is responsible, numbers to call etc.

Many thanks in advance

Your insurance will pay and if they feel the damage caused by the police was not justified then they will recover the cost from the police. However, you will have an excess to pay on your insurance which you may want to claim from the police or from your neighbour or may just want to accept it.

*Scarlett

Some policies will cover forced access by emergency services - check your policy schedule / book.

phill99

The police certainly wont pay. The have a plethora of Statute and Case Law to back them up.

ACG

My dad used to rent out a house to a drug dealer (he didnt know the bloke was a dealer), anyway the police kicked the door in and he claimed it back through their insurers.

This was probably 10-15 years ago so things could have changed.

Sally_A

1)Thank your lucky stars you have neighbours who care about you.

2) Tell them next time you are going away.

3) Try your home insurance policy, for damage caused by emergency access (Face facts, if you had been comatose on the floor, you would be very grateful indeed that your neighbours had called and they had broken in).

4) Buy the caring neighbours a box of chocs.

InsideInsurance

The buildings insurance will cover it given the reason the police broke in (evidently if it was to arrest you then it wouldnt be)

If your landlord is willing to claim on their insurance of cause is another matter. I guess who is liable outside of insurance between you and your landlord is down to the wording of your tenancy agreement

Sgt_Pepper_2

phill99 wrote: »

The police certainly wont pay. The have a plethora of Statute and Case Law to back them up.

I'm sorry but you're wrong. The police will pay.

McKneff

I wouldnt be ringing your insurance company up, they will put it on your record as a claim, even if you dont claim. Just by ringing them you are telling them you are now more of a risk and yur premiums will rise, you wil have to declare this on all insurance enquireis in the future.

Try the Police, if not, I would try getting a cheapo handymand to mend it.
Hope you feel better soon, and if youre going away at all in future, tell one of your neighbours.