Storm damage to neighbours car

teezie

Some tiles/debris fell off of a roof during the storms Wednesday night/Thursday morning. When I got up Thursday morning to walk the dog I noticed what appeared to be terracotta style tiles smashed on the pavement in front of my neighbours front window (terraced houses right on to the street), I crossed the road to check if they were from my roof and couldn't see anything missing.
Over the weekend my neighbour knocked on to say that his landlord had taken a look and decided it was our chimney pot and it had caused damage to his car so I needed to sort it with my insurers. I was going away for the weekend/til late last night so I contacted my insurers today (as the phone lines say unless it's emergency status repairs to ring back in a couple of weeks or use the online form), they're going to get back to me to discuss within 48 hours. But tonight when i got back from shopping he was waiting in the doorstep demanding to know what I'd done.
When I explained that the insurance company are prioritising people affected by floods and I couldn't give him an ETA of his claim, he got quite shirty, said he'd had it assessed at a garage and it was a write off as the car is only worth £800 - there is basically a dint on the bonnet.

I have no problem with my insurers paying out if required and me copping for the excess if it's my house that has caused the damage, but from his attitude I get the impression that he thinks he can just get me to hand over some cash

has anyone got any experience with this sort of situation? how long it will take? will my insurer assess the rooves? and require evidence of the damage to his car (eg photos etc)? or will they just take his word for it?

Browntoa

they will send an assessor to look at the car

tell him to wait as its not like its undriveable

are you 100% sure its new damage and your fault ??

Mojisola

teezie wrote: »

Some tiles/debris fell off of a roof during the storms Wednesday night/Thursday morning. When I got up Thursday morning to walk the dog I noticed what appeared to be terracotta style tiles smashed on the pavement in front of my neighbours front window (terraced houses right on to the street), I crossed the road to check if they were from my roof and couldn't see anything missing.

Over the weekend my neighbour knocked on to say that his landlord had taken a look and decided it was our chimney pot and it had caused damage to his car so I needed to sort it with my insurers. I was going away for the weekend/til late last night so I contacted my insurers today (as the phone lines say unless it's emergency status repairs to ring back in a couple of weeks or use the online form), they're going to get back to me to discuss within 48 hours. But tonight when i got back from shopping he was waiting in the doorstep demanding to know what I'd done.
When I explained that the insurance company are prioritising people affected by floods and I couldn't give him an ETA of his claim, he got quite shirty, said he'd had it assessed at a garage and it was a write off as the car is only worth £800 - there is basically a dint on the bonnet.

I have no problem with my insurers paying out if required and me copping for the excess if it's my house that has caused the damage, but from his attitude I get the impression that he thinks he can just get me to hand over some cash

has anyone got any experience with this sort of situation? how long it will take? will my insurer assess the rooves? and require evidence of the damage to his car (eg photos etc)? or will they just take his word for it?

First, he would need to prove that what damaged his car came from your roof. If you have tiles missing or damage to your chimney, that will need fixing. If you don't, the damage to his car may have been caused by someone else's roof. Things can travel quite a way in a strong, gusty wind.

Don't admit your property caused the damage until you know for sure and don't hand over any money.

Nothing's going to move fast with the house insurance. He does have the option of contacting his car insurance company.

DUTR

teezie wrote: »

Some tiles/debris fell off of a roof during the storms Wednesday night/Thursday morning. When I got up Thursday morning to walk the dog I noticed what appeared to be terracotta style tiles smashed on the pavement in front of my neighbours front window (terraced houses right on to the street), I crossed the road to check if they were from my roof and couldn't see anything missing.
Over the weekend my neighbour knocked on to say that his landlord had taken a look and decided it was our chimney pot and it had caused damage to his car so I needed to sort it with my insurers. I was going away for the weekend/til late last night so I contacted my insurers today (as the phone lines say unless it's emergency status repairs to ring back in a couple of weeks or use the online form), they're going to get back to me to discuss within 48 hours. But tonight when i got back from shopping he was waiting in the doorstep demanding to know what I'd done.
When I explained that the insurance company are prioritising people affected by floods and I couldn't give him an ETA of his claim, he got quite shirty, said he'd had it assessed at a garage and it was a write off as the car is only worth £800 - there is basically a dint on the bonnet.

I have no problem with my insurers paying out if required and me copping for the excess if it's my house that has caused the damage, but from his attitude I get the impression that he thinks he can just get me to hand over some cash

has anyone got any experience with this sort of situation? how long it will take? will my insurer assess the rooves? and require evidence of the damage to his car (eg photos etc)? or will they just take his word for it?

Firstly, it is not up to the landlord, the neighbour should contact his car insurance company to lodge a claim , his insurer will contact your home insurer, the two companies will assess and decide if and whom is liable and if any compensation is due.
Somehow though, I fear your neighbour will not want to follow the insurance route, even in a perfect situation, it takes weeks to close a case , so he best get used to waiting if he really feels he has a claim and doesn't like his incident free policy.

Richard53

Unless he has the actual tile that caused the damage, and there is a gap in your tiled roof which matches it, then he has no way on earth of proving that your tile caused the damage. He's trying it on, seriously. It is absolutely nothing to do with his landlord. Sounds to me like they are attempting to gang up and bully you. Resist.

Iceweasel

DUTR wrote: »

Firstly, it is not up to the landlord, the neighbour should contact his car insurance company to lodge a claim , his insurer will contact your home insurer, the two companies will assess and decide if and whom is liable and if any compensation is due.
Somehow though, I fear your neighbour will not want to follow the insurance route, even in a perfect situation, it takes weeks to close a case , so he best get used to waiting if he really feels he has a claim and doesn't like his incident free policy.

This is possibly a scam.

With a car worth £800 he may have only 3rd party insurance so may not covered for falling masonry.

DUTR is correct - you both need to follow the correct procedure.

Tell your insurance company that your roof/chimney may have sustained damage and some debris may have fallen on a neighbours car - but you do not know for sure. It needs to be inspected.

After you have reported this to your Insurance company, offer your neighbour the name of your company, but ask for the details of his car insurance company.

You may find that he is not so interested in going down that route.

Do NOT admit liability at all, or part with any cash.

Aretnap

Your insurer will only pay if you're legally liable. To be legally liable you would have to have been negligent in some way. Even if he can prove that the tiles came from your roof that's not enough in itself. He'd also basically have to prove that your roof was in a dangerous condition and that you knew, or should have known, that it was dangerous. That would not be easy - in the sort of storms we've had recently even well maintained roofs are at risk of losing tiles.

He should make a claim on his own car insurance if he has comprehensive cover. If his insurers think you may be liable they can pursue you or your insurer for reimbursement - they probably won't. If he doesn't have comprehensive cover then he's likely to be out of luck.

dacouch

Aretnap wrote: »

Your insurer will only pay if you're legally liable. To be legally liable you would have to have been negligent in some way. Even if he can prove that the tiles came from your roof that's not enough in itself. He'd also basically have to prove that your roof was in a dangerous condition and that you knew, or should have known, that it was dangerous. That would not be easy - in the sort of storms we've had recently even well maintained roofs are at risk of losing tiles.

He should make a claim on his own car insurance if he has comprehensive cover. If his insurers think you may be liable they can pursue you or your insurer for reimbursement - they probably won't. If he doesn't have comprehensive cover then he's likely to be out of luck.

Is the only totally correct reply

Hintza

Storm on 5th December a friend's house in the village was hit by numerous slates from the school next door. The school was only liable if negligence was shown. My friend had to claim via their insurance and pay the £300 excess which she found the most galling bit.

albionrovers

Be prepared for your own car to get keyed during the night. Do you have cctv?

colino

OP, did you go up on your roof and maliciously loosen off a few tiles hoping a wind would strike up and damage your neighbours car? Of course not, unless he wants to go to the trouble of proving you had a badly maintained or damaged roof that you failed to secure, then it's down to his car insurance. !!!!!! happens.