Insurance no one to blame

rosie_drew

Hi

I rent a room for beauty. The hairdresser above had a heater that they no longer used and it flooded through my ceiling and damaged a lot of equipment. I or the hairdresser do not have contents insurance only employee.

I have tried to obtain their insurance which is employee cover but apparently, their insurance company has said that the flood was not neglect and therefore I would have to prove that it was.

I then spoke to the landlord and again, he said it his not his problem.

I'm getting nowhere fast. I have lost money and equipment.

rs65

I am afraid to say that you will have to prove negligence on their part - which will be difficult.

If you had business contents cover, you would be fine.

rosie_drew

rs65 wrote: »

I am afraid to say that you will have to prove negligence on their part - which will be difficult.

If you had business contents cover, you would be fine.

I understand but surely they should have checked their equipment regardless of whether they were using the water heater??

rosie_drew

Is it really hard to prove negligence.

InsideInsurance

rosie_drew wrote: »

I understand but surely they should have checked their equipment regardless of whether they were using the water heater??

Do you?

As has been said you have to prove, on the balance of probability, that they have been negligent. It is similarish to "innocent until proven guilty" but with the benefit of it being on the balance of probability rather than beyond reasonable doubt.

Negligence is defined as either doing something that a reasonable person wouldn't do or failing to do something that a reasonable person would do.

Now I would consider myself a fairly reasonable person and I dont check my water heater with any form of regularity at all unless I turn on the tap and dont get hot water or my radiators don't heat up.

hcb42

not having cover yourself is similar to only having TP motor insurance.

Yes, if someone else is proven negligent you can claim your costs of repair, but it is a risk not to ensure comprehensively.

There is no evidence of negligence that is apparent here (although they might be)