Swimming Pool Insurance

rainee

Hi
can anyone give me some pointers here
we have buildings and contents with the halifax and have just finished an above ground pool BUT we have been told that because it is not built in we are only covered up to £500 on garden contents!! not on buildings are there any specialist insurers out there?

EmberJDIns

As your swimming pool is free standing, with I guess no foundations, they are treating as Contents, and there are limits for Contents in the open/garden cover.

I would suggest trying an Insurance Broker, who will hopefully find you a Buildings & Contents Insurance, that specifically covers your swimming pool for it's current replacement value.

rainee

The trouble is that it does sit on a concrete base designed for it. and halifax contents only cover garden for £500 even though we have accidental damage on everything too plus we are still sorting out a claim as well with them so dont really want to move insurance either!! as their rate is pretty good

EmberJDIns

You need common sense underwriting and flexibility to meet your insurance requirements, and you're unlikely to get that from a call centre or online. An Insurance Broker will contact an Insurer who they have a good relationship with and explain your requirements, and hopefully get the cover specifically written into a policy. In the interim would suggest you ask to a Manager at the call centre to see if anything could be done. Good luck.

FlameCloud

Is it plumbed in in anyway?

It wouldnt be the first time policies are wrong.

rainee

it has pipes that connect to the pump and heater plus the power (which hasn't been sorted yet) needs a separate ring of its own

mattymoo

rainee wrote: »

it has pipes that connect to the pump and heater plus the power (which hasn't been sorted yet) needs a separate ring of its own

EmberJDins is giving good advice here. This really needs a common sense approach. With the rise in hot tubs and large above ground pools, I cannot believe they have not been asked the question before.

Most call centres have a technical underwriting department. Ask for your case to be referred to that department for consideration. If they agree to insure the pool it is a simple matter to write an endorsement for the policy that will then appear on your schedule.

The £500 inner policy limit for items in the open in the garden is there to restrict the size of theft losses. The pool is more of a structure like a shed. Ask the technical underwriter what their approach to garden sheds is and if this could be applied to the pool.

It is highly unlikely the pool will be stolen (the water will weigh tonnes) but the underwriters may restrict storm damage cover for it. Some permanent above ground pools have a flexible material, placed in a wooden outer frame. If the liner is severely damaged (beyond a small puncture) repair is usually not possible.

You are also unlikely to get accidental damage cover. When these are applied, they usually exclude accidental damage caused while the item is in use. As an example, damage to golf clubs and rackets caused by over exhuberant play is not normally covered.

You may find it gets to a point where the insurance cover is not worth it and you need to consider self insurance. Typically perils are as follows:-

Fire
Aircraft
Explosion. - should be no problem with these but fire is unlikely apart from heater unit.

Lightning
Earthquake
impact (from cars - again unlikely)

Theft (unlikely)
Malicious damage - possibly the only cover worth having.

Storm
Flood. May be restricted cover or excluded.

Accidental damage - Likely to exclude AD while in use or excluded altogether.

rainee

well the halifax are not playing ball they are stating that because it sits on the top of the garden then it is portable!!!
back to the drawing board and fast!!