general insurance policy

houmie

Hi,

I was wondering if it's possible to buy a general insurance?

Imagine I would like to utilise a solicitor to fight the council tax band evaluation. Or I have an issue with a builder company and would need a solicitor, or a car has hit me and I would need legal help.

Is there such insurance policy that would cover general one-off cases like this?

Thanks,

ThinkingOutLoud_2

So if you think you are paying the wrong council tax - you don't need a solicitor. Follow the steps here noting the risks / issues - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/council-tax-bands-change

Legals Expenses cover is sold with car and home insurance policies as an add on. That does some of what you are thinking - read here - http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/technical_notes/legal-expenses.html and http://www.which.co.uk/money/insurance/legal-expenses-insurance/guides/legal-expenses-insurance-explained

OR There are some specific legal expenses products - I picked these two examples at random - but they may meet you aims - https://www.das.co.uk or http://www.allianzlegalprotection.co.uk/home/for-individuals/what-is-legal-expenses-insurance.html

Your desire to litigate seems strong!

houmie

haha No not really. On the contrary, I just like the peace of mind just in case that something happens.

Thank you for the tips. I just got the council tax evaluation of my new built flat and it's rated as G, with H being the maximum.

Would a 660k flat have fallen between £160,001 - £320,000 in 1991? Doesn't seem quite right to me.

I have to appeal to the council and once it's rejected I could then appeal to the independent tribunal. It's all new to me, as it's my first purchase.

Cheers,

ThinkingOutLoud_2

So on MSE's estimated valuation via the link I posted and guessing that it is in London...

YOUR DETAILS
Sale price in Jan - Mar 2016 - £660,000 (cannot get result for more recent periods)
Region London
ACCORDING TO NATIONWIDE'S HOUSE PRICE DATA
Property's value in 1991
Council tax band relating to that price... £112,755
Band E (£88,001-£120,000 ?>)
So you may be right and wish you had bought 1991!

But follow the steps given ...

houmie

That was very helpful. Can't believe they are wrong by two bands!! I will write a letter to them this weekend.

Thank you

ThinkingOutLoud_2

houmie wrote: »

That was very helpful. Can't believe they are wrong by two bands!! I will write a letter to them this weekend.

Thank you

Well lets hope so, assuming you are going through the steps Mr Lewis has laid out carefully... I think he gives pretty clear guidance how to take it forwards too - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/council-tax-bands-change#step4

And if new build flat - you must be in same boat as others in the same block? Might be worth getting together to discuss / fight?

houmie

There is one thing I don't quite understand.

Martin's calculator "Estimate your home’s 1991 value" seems to show the wrong data.

For a property value of £664,000 in Q3 2015, it shows me £116,659 value in 1991. Apparently, this is sourced from Nationwide.

When I go to Nationwide property index site to reverse lookup the value in 1991 I get a different result.

If I pick £186,000 for "Valuation date 1 (Q3 1991)", only then I would get the actual purchase price of £663,098 for "Valuation date 2 (Q3 2015)".

The difference between £116,659 and £186,000 is big and it put me indeed into Band G after all. Hopefully, I'm making a mistake and Martin's calculation is rather correct. But how does he calculate it?

houmie

Anyone?

rs65

Maybe ask in the house buying etc part of the forum?