Neighbours Chimney Damage Causing Damp.

swiftysw

We live in a 1920 Terraced Property. Due to the current storms our 'Neighbours' chimney has being checked and now need re-pointing and re-leading.

Last week we noticed Damp coming through the adjoining wall and I paid for a professional roofer to check the cause.

The problem is her chimney...

She (The Neighbours) tells me that she has informed her insurance and has taken pictures.

I have telephoned our buildings insurance policy this AM and they have told me that because the damage is caused from 'her' chimney that we cant claim through our insurance..

(Re-plastering, Papering, carpet etc etc)

What is my best route?

Thanks


Please see attached Pics..

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/snidnwgelo4051r/l83cVR7-b2

InsideInsurance

Is this not a party wall? If not, how is their damp getting into your property?

That said, it sounds like a maintenance issue and thus not covered by insurance.

22johnny22

If you have AD cover and can demonstrate that the damage to your property has been caused by a one off isolated incident (albeit due to the failure of the neighbours chimney) you might have a chance to claim.

A slim one though and depending on your policy wording.

swiftysw

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Is this not a party wall? If not, how is their damp getting into your property?

That said, it sounds like a maintenance issue and thus not covered by insurance.

Yes this is a PartyWall

swiftysw

22johnny22 wrote: »

If you have AD cover and can demonstrate that the damage to your property has been caused by a one off isolated incident (albeit due to the failure of the neighbours chimney) you might have a chance to claim.

Yes we ONLY have accidental on Contents...

22johnny22

swiftysw wrote: »

22johnny22 wrote: »

If you have AD cover and can demonstrate that the damage to your property has been caused by a one off isolated incident (albeit due to the failure of the neighbours chimney) you might have a chance to claim.

Yes we ONLY have accidental on Contents...

then you might have a claim for the carpets.

had there been any history of ingress from the neighbours and/or were they aware of the problem prior to this incident?

WestonDave

Does it really need replastering and new carpets if you only noticed the damp last week? Fair enough if it had been going on for ages and mould growing etc, but a one off damp ingress due to exceptional storms should dry out and be fine afterwards. If the chimney gets leaded and pointed fairly soon I'd be inclined to see how well it recovers before getting into potentially unnecessary expense particularly as the insurers aren't being cooperative.

swiftysw

22johnny22 wrote: »

swiftysw wrote: »

then you might have a claim for the carpets.

had there been any history of ingress from the neighbours and/or were they aware of the problem prior to this incident?

Yes; we had the same roofer out last year; he cleared some moss and some lead work which rectified the problem short term.....

When he came back out last week he noticed (Through more investigation)the problems with the chimney..

InsideInsurance

swiftysw wrote: »

22johnny22 wrote: »

Yes; we had the same roofer out last year; he cleared some moss and some lead work which rectified the problem short term.....

When he came back out last week he noticed (Through more investigation)the problems with the chimney..

Sounds like they have acted reasonably by having someone out to do work each time an issue has been spotted so its unlikely you can make a claim against them for negligence

swiftysw

I Arranged the Roofer.. And paid for it..

swiftysw

Please see attached Pics..

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/snidnwgelo4051r/l83cVR7-b2