Is Freeholder charging me too much for buildings insurance

Kayjo

Hi

As a leaseholder my freeholder (who I've had endless problems with in the past!) has just sent my annual invoice for buildings insurance.

I live in the upstairs flat on a two storey converted typical Victorian terrace in South-West London.

He's charging me £421 - which is also a 27% increase on last year's premium.

Does this sound fair or should I query it?

I have a photocopied piece of paper from the brokers entitled "Property Owners Insurance Policy" and it says £421 - so he is insured for
Buildings £540,000
Loss of rent £20,100 (the downstairs flat he owns and rents out - but I don't rent my flat)
Property Owners Liability £5m

On the certifcate it mentions the number of our property which is no 9 - whereas my flat is strictly 9A and the flat below 9.

Is he charging me the whole of the premuim for the building whereas I should only be liable for 50%?

Any help gratefully received.

Quentin

Dispute this with the landowner.

From what you say he has made a clerical error. (2 actually, the one sending you a copy of the broker's invoice which shows you his error no 2!)

kilobite

To me, it looks like he's charging you for his 'Property Owners Insurance' as a whole - This is a package policy in his name and it's his responsibility to pay although I guess he could request a contribution from you! I'm no expert but to me he's just trying it on and hoping that you'll pay for his policy in full!

nobbysn*ts

I thought insurance was part of the service charge?

Kayjo

Thanks for your replies.

I don't pay a service charge, as my lease states I'm responsible for the roof and he's responsible for foundations, drains etc.

I think he's charging me for the whole lot too. To be perfectly honest his administrator (who is actually quite a nice lady, if a bit, dare I say, not very bright) has made quite a few errors over the years, I'm not sure always intentionally.

I can't help thinking though that a 27% increase is too high.

If he has charged me for the whole building, when I should only be paying half then in fact it brings into questions how much I was paying last year, as half this year's premium is over £100 less than I paid last year when I didn't have the broker's invoice.

I think the reason the nice-but-dim administrator sent me the invoice is because I wrote earlier in the year requesting a copy of the insurance details as I wished to see the property was adequately insured as his tenant downstairs goes mad occasionally and whacks the walls and ceilings really hard with household objects.

I'm going to reply to him and say I think he's made a mistake and erroneously has charged me for the whole building but if indeed that is the premium just for my flat to get the certificate re-issued with just my address on it which is 9A, First Floor Flat. Then if he is trying it on he'll be stuck.