Arrrgh! House insurance doesn't cover 1+ acre but doesn't say so anywhere! (Policy Expert)

Tunstallstoven

Hi all

In the process of moving house and getting home insurance quotes. We got a great price with Policy Expert and were just checking the finer details before giving them the thumbs up ready for when we exchange. But we were left with a couple of questions and so gave them a call to discuss. It was all going very well. But in passing, we happened to mention the property has 3 acres. She stopped us right there, apologised, and said they cannot insure anything with above 1 acre. Gutted! We were so close! And the price was great!

What's strange and more worrying is that they do not ask this question either on comparison site or on their on site when you get a quote. Nor is it mentioned in their policy booklet. So had we not mentioned it, we would have been potentially left with invalid insurance. And like I say, it was only by chance and in passing that we mentioned it.

Nuclear contamination - check. Terrorism - check. Sonic booms - check. Seems so strange that their policy accounts for all these rather obscure things but not something as simple as the size of the garden.

So firstly a warning for anyone with a big garden! Check your insurance is valid!

Secondly, is this reportable? I think it's really out of order, and aside from the reason mentioned above, I'm pretty peeved I spent an hour or two reading their booklet and calling them for nothing.

Many thanks

tacpot12

I think in the first instance I would complain to Policy Expert about the fact that you could have bought insurance that wasn't suitable because all the policy exclusions were not made clear on their website. In your letter of complaint, I would ask for their advice about who to complain to if they maintain that it is the insurance company's responsibility to check the policy exclusions before the point of sale.

Tunstallstoven

Thanks tacpot12.

I should have also added to the first post - if anyone knows of other insurers who do not insure any properties with an acre+ (or similar restrictions) please join in. It will be my first question from now on, but still good to get a list going. If I come across others I'll add them to the thread.

Cheers