Incorrect insurance sold? Can I claim?

hubris

Hi,

I own the freehold for a terraced house which is split into two self contained flats.

I owned the leasehold for the upstairs flat until recently (I've moved home), and the leasehold for downstairs is owned by a housing association.

The housing association had their own 'block' insurance policy which covered all of the properties they own. For this reason I thought (incorrectly in retrospect), that in terms of buildings (i.e. not contents) insurance, all I needed to cover was my upstairs flat. So for several years I was buying buildings insurance for the upstairs flat. I later discovered from another insurer that for buildings insurance to be valid, it has to be for the whole building. In essence the insurance I had been buying for several years was invalid/useless.

I very quickly changed my policy to cover the whole building (and invoiced the housing association as appropriate).

My question is - in selling me buildings insurance for my upstairs flat, did my insurance company mis-sell, as it was essentially a useless purchase? Can/should I make a claim?

Thanks.

nidO

Did they sell something (ie someone advise you that what they were selling you was what you needed) to you incorrectly, or did you buy it incorrectly?

xHannahx

Was it the same insurer who told you about insuring the whole building. Policies may differ between insurers.
It sounds like you mis bought rather than they miss sold.

societys_child

Agree with the previous posts, it's up to you to buy the insurance that you required. Unless there's more to it, I can't see how the insurance company was at fault.

The housing association had their own 'block' insurance policy which covered all of the properties they own. For this reason I thought (incorrectly in retrospect), that in terms of buildings (i.e. not contents) insurance, all I needed to cover was my upstairs flat

hubris

Yes, it was not a case of me being approached and sold a product that wasn't suitable.

I'm just disappointed that the insurance company didn't pipe up and say "this product you're buying isn't suitable and won't provide what you're looking for".

Thanks for your help anyways.

dunstonh

I'm just disappointed that the insurance company didn't pipe up and say "this product you're buying isn't suitable and won't provide what you're looking for".

How would they know?