Neighbour leakage problem home insurance, how to handle?

nmufti

Hi,

We purchased our house (terraced bungalow) 2 years ago. In our street, houses are built in such a way that some part of our garage is connected to bed room of our neighbour.

About 3 months ago, my neighbour told me that during excessive rain, water on our garage's roof is leaking towards their bedroom and the reason is that drainage pipe get blocked due to moss & leaves. I cleaned the roof and since then I regularly cleaning it to make sure that drain pipe don't get blocked.

Yesterday she contacted me again and asked for my home insurance details. On asking, she told me that there is still leakage and it caused the damp and damage on their wall. She said that it was not blockage but the way garage roof is build causing problem. She contacted her insurance company and they asked for details of my insurance as the reason of damage is water leaking from my garage.

I told her that I don't have experience of this type of situation and I will discuss it with my family and let her know.

Now my questions are:

1. What is the right way to handle this situation? Should I give my insurance details to her?

2. She also suggested me to modify the roof and change the location of pipe towards the street. She said that the way roof is built causing the problem.

3. I have compared my garage roof with my other side neighbor and they have exactly the same type of roof and similar drain pipe that is connected to my bedroom, but I am not having any leakage from them. It's the way houses are build in this area.

4. I bought the house in the same situation and they are living here since long, is it still my fault?

5. Who can decide whether their problem caused by us or them?

6. If they claim on our insurance, would I need to pay the excess and would my insurance payment be increased?

I never been to this type of situation before, can someone help me to tackle this situation?

Thanks you very much

dacouch

She has rung up her own Insurers and they have most likely told her that the Damp and Damage on her wall are not something her own Home Insurance Covers.

Your Policy will include an element of Liability Cover, however your neighboor would need to prove you were negligent which very basically is could the damage to her property REASONABLY be avoided

nmufti

Thanks dacouch
I just took some pictures and noticed that their wall that connects to our garage needs re-pointing. There is small gap from where water could go into their wall.
Do i still needs to get advice from my insurance company?

Quentin

Wait to see if any claim results from next door before contacting your insurer.


In the meantime make sure that your property is no longer responsible for causing the neighbours any damage.


(As now you have been informed they think it's down to your negligence they would have a strong case if it happens again (and your property is to "blame" that despite being informed you did nothing)

nmufti

Thanks Quentin
But as I have noticed that their wall needs to re-point, wouldn't it be their responsibility to fix the problem? Or will it still my negligence?

Quentin

nmufti wrote: »

Thanks Quentin
But as I have noticed that their wall needs to re-point, wouldn't it be their responsibility to fix the problem? Or will it still my negligence?

As long as you are sure this is the cause of the problem then it is nothing to do with you.

End of story as far as you are concerned!