Fitted ceramic hob

Fleritta

Dear All,

Can you please help me to understand why none of my insurances cover the damage to a fitted ceramic hob.

I own a flat in a block of flats (leasehold). My landlord / Management company has a building insurance.

I have a separate content insurance from John Lewis that includes accidental damage.

Last week I accidentally cracked my ceramic hob fitted into kitchen island and was trying to arrange a claim against one of the insurance policies above. John Lewis responded that fitted ceramic hob is apart of building insurance, building building insurance company responded that they cover only communal areas. If it is the case, why do they include it into the service charge.

Does it mean that I have to replace the ceramic hob at my own expense?

Appreciate your advice as I feel lost.

[Deleted User]

Sounds like it. It would be covered under a decent buildings policy.

Fleritta

Thank you for your response.

Does it mean that I need to arrange a separate building insurance only for my flat within 400 flats building?

Is it allowed?

davidwatts

Fleritta wrote: »

Thank you for your response.

Does it mean that I need to arrange a separate building insurance only for my flat within 400 flats building?

Is it allowed?

No, it is not your responsibility to insure the buildings and that policy doesn't "just cover the communal areas" as it insures the structure of the whole building. You need to get sight of the policy document to see whether or not it covers accidental damage to ceramic hobs in individual flats. There's always risks of gaps in cover in your situation, where you have no direct control over what's covered by the buildings insurance. Also, double check the wording of your contents cover to make sure it doesn't include this cover (just in case you've been incorrectly advised).

I believe there are some contents policies out there that would cover this so you might want to consider one for the future if it turns out not to be covered by either policy on this occasion.

Fleritta

davidwatts wrote: »

No, it is not your responsibility to insure the buildings and that policy doesn't "just cover the communal areas" as it insures the structure of the whole building. You need to get sight of the policy document to see whether or not it covers accidental damage to ceramic hobs in individual flats. There's always risks of gaps in cover in your situation, where you have no direct control over what's covered by the buildings insurance. Also, double check the wording of your contents cover to make sure it doesn't include this cover (just in case you've been incorrectly advised).

I believe there are some contents policies out there that would cover this so you might want to consider one for the future if it turns out not to be covered by either policy on this occasion.

Thank you very much for the response. My content insurance states:
‘Accidental breakage of mirrors, ceramic hobs in freestanding cookers or glass which forms part of the furniture in the home’ as my hob is fitted, it is outside scope.

As for building insurance, here is a bit more difficult as it is pretty generic, the closest I found:

SECTION 1 – PROPERTY DAMAGE: Residential Rent/Alternative Accommodation is included at an amount not exceeding 35.00% of the Sum Insured applying to the Residential Property – cover is provided subject to the terms of all Loss of Revenue Clauses


Building(s) shall mean building or buildings as insured by the Company including the following all situate on in or at the Premises
1. landlord s' fixtures and fittings (including fixed glass fixed sanitary ware fitted carpets communal television and radio receiving aerials satellite dishes communication equipment and related fittings) machinery plant equipment including those formerly the property of tenants which have been relinquished to the Insured

It looks to me that under these clauses fitted hob May be covered but I am not a specialist in the area to make a relevant judgement

FlameCloud

In my experience managing agents tell that to leaseholders all the time - in reality I've yet to see an insurance policy that covers any other than the entire building.

EdGasketTheSecond

It would be an exceedingly generous building policy that would cover accidental damage by tennants to their own fittings. I think you are not covered by either policy in this case.

Fleritta

Does it mean that I need to arrange a separate building insurance that will cover fittings (sinks, bathrooms, fitted fridge etc) in my property installed by the building owner?

elle_may

When i broke my ceramic hob insurance said it would be covered under the home contents part and not under buildings unless i had accidental damage,this is extra. I had both so they decided which to claim from.

Fleritta

My problem that I have a content insurance with accidental damage but my insurance policy states that only freestanding ceramic hobs are covered.

As I live in a leasehold apartment, my building insurance is done by the management company and by the comments above I infer that that insurance covers only the building itself ;(

PrivateClients

Normally you would need to arrange a policy that covers both your contents and your "Tenants Improvements" - TI is normally the cover for leaseholders own fixtures and fittings. I have clients who spend several million refurbishing their apartments and that is how we would cover it. I don't know how readily available this is in the standard market but some better contents policies also allow a small sub-limit (e.g. £5k in a £50k contents policy) to cover tenants fixtures and fittings.