Are insurance recommendations obligatory ?

Quest73

Hi. My elderly aunt's house insurance people have recommended that She installs a wired and linked smoke alarm system in the roof attic and house of her thatched cottage.
There are battery smoke alarms up there.
She is not in a position financially to do this now.
My query is: do we HAVE to do this? Is an insurance "recommendation" compulsory? Does the insurance remain valid if we do not? I know We can ask the insurance company this but I welcome views please.
Thank you

Quentin

If it's simply a "recommendation" then that's all it is and has no impact on her insurance whether or not she follows the recommendation.


Only if it were a "requirement" for cover would she need to comply.

Quest73

Thank you. In the Requirements section it says that an additional smoke detector has to be fitted (which we have done). THEN it says (still in the Requirement section) that "it is recommended that detectors are mains powered with battery back up and are interlinked...". So is this a requirement or a recommendation? I think it has to be a recommendation but has caused concern because it is still in the Requirements section.

rudekid48

Only your insurer can answer

Aretnap

I would read it as a requirement that she install a second smoke alarm, and a recommendation (but not a requirement) that the two alarms be linked. But I'd check with a phone call - and note the time of the call and the name of the person you talk to just in case it's an issue in future.