Garage falling down, covered by insurance?

fluffy_penguin

Hi, looking for some help on whether I can make a claim on my insurance for our garage that is probably going to fall down soon.

We have a high level of insurance that covers both buildings & contents both with accidental damage and the garage is included.

We have a couple of old trees/stumps (next to our free-standing garage) that we are going to have removed shortly and I am convinced that the garage is likely to fall down after this, due to the disruption/ voids in the ground.(we will get a professional to remove the trees)
Is the insurance likely to cover the re-build cost of the garage? I don't want to make a claim if it will not get paid as the excess is really high. Even though the garage is old, we use it every day and had a new shutter installed a few years ago- could this be classed as upkeep?

Would appreciate any help or others who have been in a similar situation.

Thanks

dacouch

Insurance covers specific perils eg fire and storm etc etc, it does not cover general maintenance which is the responsibility of the home owner.

Your garage will come under general maintenance.

fluffy_penguin

Even though it will be the removal of the tree stumps and roots that will cause it to fall down due to the voids in the ground?
Thanks

dacouch

Removing the stumps is maintenance of your home

InsideInsurance

Unless you're going to go down the subsidence route then you arent going to be covered. A subsidence claim is going to have a major impact on your insurance for years (not just the normal 3-5) and impact the value of your home.

On the basis its as a result of your own actions you're unlikely to get a subsidence claim accepted and so could have the hit and have no settlement

forgotmyname

If you know that removing the tree stumps will cause the garage to fall down then dont remove them.

Or make the structure safe BEFORE you removed them.

Its like saying im going outside with a hammer to smash my car up because i want to claim for a new one.

fluffy_penguin

Thanks for all the help.
I wish we could leave them but a neighbour is legally forcing us to remove them and the garage is too old to waste money attempting to make it safe beforehand as this will not be far off the cost of a new one (which we obviously can't afford!)

forgotmyname

Chop the trees down to a safe level and leave the stumps?

You shouldnt get much movement then.