Just about to exchange, Home Insurace lock quirie

dares_uk

Literally about to exchange contracts (great)


but I have a question about home insurance,
we have a garage, and the insurance companies requirements are as follows




"but the garage needs to be secured by a five lever deadlock and bolts. Either that or a padbar with a stout closed shackle padlock or a sturdy hasp and staple with a stout closed shackle padlock."


now, when I google those locks, they all seem like locks/padlocks for a normal door.
We only have a up and over garage door, with a T bar handle and a lock in the middle.
Which seems like it doesn't match the requirements.
I questioned them about this, and they say that's the only locks they cover.


Am I being stupid, ? and advise would be good please.


thanks

G_M

Does the garage give access to the house?

You say "insurance companies' plural - are you seriously saying they all demand this? Is this in all their standard policies, or have you been specifically asking them questions?

dares_uk

No, the garage is separate from the house, and under a Coachhouse, only has an up and over door, ie no side door etc..


sorry, think I meant to say
'the insurance company's requirements are...'

harrys_dad

If your garage is under a coachhouse then isn't it covered by the insurance for the coachhouse, and you get billed directly from the owner of the coach house for your share?

Thrugelmir

Do you intend storing anything in the garage of value?

G_M

I asume this is a contents policy.

a) what value are the contents of the garage?
b) or is the garage to be included with the contents policy for your house?
c) have you tried more than one insurer?
d) was this rquirement in their standard policy document, or
e) did you pose a specific question to which this requirement is the reply? If so, why the specific question?

If buildings cover - who is the freeholder?

sevenhills

dares_uk wrote: »

"but the garage needs to be secured by a five lever deadlock and bolts. Either that or a padbar with a stout closed shackle padlock or a sturdy hasp and staple with a stout closed shackle padlock."

Would it mean a lock like this, which is in addition to the garage door lock?
Or something a little sturdier.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HEAVY-DUTY-SECURITY-SET-HASP-AND-STAPLE-70MM-DISC-ROUND-PADLOCK-2-KEYS/251365818638

LAC789

The owner of the coach house will be the freeholder for the garage and will have to insure it under their buildings insurance. Check your garage deeds because the majority say something along the lines of "only to be used to store a motor vehicle", so would you really need contents cover for the garage?

AdrianC

A standard garage door T-handle is trivially easy to break into. The insurer are wise to ask for better security if you want anything in the garage to be covered.

dares_uk

Hi


thanks for all the replies, although going a little too deep/sideways for my question.


*Yes, I understand T handles is easy to break, can it be upgraded somehow?
*Yes, I understand most coachhouse's have their own policy, and you contribute towards it, but not in the case, at the moment. Although the freeholder wants to change to this in the future.
*I'm aware of the conditions in my lease, what is and isn't allowed.
*my insurance would cover building(garage) and contents
*this is the requirements of the policy, I want to ensure I meet them,


"hasp and staple with a stout closed shackle padlock"
I'm unsure how this type of lock/fitting can be fitted/used with an up and over door.


Is there way to may a T handle lock more secure and meet the above requirements?
ie can a five lever deadlock and bolts be fitted to the handle?


I will need to ask if a door stop/blocker with suitable padlock would be suffice.

Hedgehog99

The locks described sound like pedestrian door locks, so the insurance company is agreeing that the usual up & over garage door is easy to break into and is wanting to see that a pedestrian door from the garage into the house is secure because a burglar could be attacking that door unseen if he's already got into the garage.

...but since you say you do not have a pedestrian door from the garage to the house, you should make that clear to your insurer because that will confirm to them that there is no security risk to the house from possible unauthorised entry via the garage.