Garden fire - who's responsibility please?

Daveswife

Quite a large fire has wiped out sheds, fences and gates in 5 neighbouring gardens. The firemen who attended confirmed it started in a neighbour's shed.
I assumed their insurance would be responsible for getting everything put straight, am I right?

Thanks for any info

Rolandtheroadie

Experienced similar recently, the neighbours had to claim their own policy in the first instance (paying their excess too) then their insurer will claim this back from the insurance company of the person responsible.
This is assuming the responsible person has insurance.

huckster

Each claim off own insurance. Very unlikely any claim against first shed owner where the fire started , unless there is evidence of negligence.

For anyone without insurance or those looking into negligence, see if the fire brigade will be producing a report which might reveal cause and potential liability.

forgotmyname

Did the neighbour cause the fire or vandals?

HappyMJ

forgotmyname wrote: »

Did the neighbour cause the fire or vandals?

Even if the neighbour caused the fire then they may not be responsible for all the repairs. The neighbour has to have been negligent.

Daveswife

It's privately rented so we are assuming the landlord had all the insurance in place. Everyone was out when it started, but if their garden and alley being 2 foot deep in junk isn't negligent I don't know what is!

PasturesNew

Being knee deep in junk isn't negligence... using the shed as a workshop and leaving a blow torch on while they dashed inside to answer the phone would be negligent.

You need to start with establishing exactly how it started.

Then work out the next step.

Quentin

Daveswife wrote: »

It's privately rented so we are assuming the landlord had all the insurance in place. Everyone was out when it started, but if their garden and alley being 2 foot deep in junk isn't negligent I don't know what is!

The insurer of the shed is irrelevant.

You need to see if your insurer covers your damage.

If not then in answer to your original question you are responsible for paying your own repairs.

Proving negligence looks unlikely from what you say

Daveswife

Finally got hold of my insurers yesterday afternoon. We are covered, but as some have suggested everyone will be paying their own excess and making seperate claims. Just doesn't seem fair
Hey ho...

robotrobo

Daveswife wrote: »

Finally got hold of my insurers yesterday afternoon. We are covered, but as some have suggested everyone will be paying their own excess and making seperate claims. Just doesn't seem fair
Hey ho...

First of all sorry you had a fire at all !. but on the bright side you are covered with your house insurance , so whats all the sadness for , everything will be replaced and no one was injured .:)

Daveswife

robotrobo wrote: »

First of all sorry you had a fire at all !. but on the bright side you are covered with your house insurance , so whats all the sadness for , everything will be replaced and no one was injured .:)

Sadly, everything won't be replaced. The buildings insurance covers the gate and fence only, not the £100 of recycling boxes and wheelie bins, the washing line, can crusher, bike cover, plants and pots - we have to replace all of that as well as paying the excess - hence the