"Outbuilding" Home Insurance Question

learning110

Good evening,

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

I'm assisting a relative who has recently has had some quite high-value items stolen - the insurance company is not rejecting the claim but is limited it as the items they state were stored in an outbuilding.

To provide some context the property is one of four flats and to gain access you need to have a code or get buzzed in. Attached to the side of the flat (the adjoining wall) is what's best described as a lockup, a concrete box with a solid, locked wooden door.

When taking out the policy it was queried if this area would be covered and the insurance company confirmed it would. What was not mentioned however is the amount of cover would be reduced from the normal £50k to £500... I have written to the insurance company using a SAR to see if we can obtain a copy of this conversation.

As far as I can see it all rests on what an "Out Building" is defined as. From what I have read its commonly used to describe barns, garages, sheds, etc away from the main property but still within the boundaries of the land owned. This instance is a bit different, however - the lockup is directly joined to the side of the property and behind another secured door.

Has anyone had any experience with this or have any advice?

Many thanks in advance.

TSx

Does the policy have a definition of outbuilding?

learning110

Hello,

Thank you for your reply. No there is no definition - the word is only referenced seven times in the whole policy - most along lines of:

We will pay up to £500 for any contents
claim following a theft from your garage or
outbuildings.

and

Home The main residence occupied by you, at
the address shown in your schedule, including its
domestic garages and outbuildings. etc

but nothing that actually defines it.

The dictionary definition I found is "A smaller separate building such as a shed or barn that belongs to the main building, such as a house or farm."

The insurance company are taking the line that only items physically located "behind the front door" are fully covered, everything outside that door is pretty much considered an "outbuilding".

Zorillo

If access to the lock up is from outside the building, it would seem to be an outbuilding in my opinion. An outbuilding doesn't have to be detached.

If access is from inside, it would depend on the intention of the insurer when writing the cover. As a claim from a "garage" would only be covered up to £500 regardless of whether is a detached or integral garage, it would seem fairly likely to me that the intention would be to restrict cover to £500 for a lock up/storage area outside of the actual flat.

But just because that's what they may have intended doesn't mean they've drafted the wording correctly so you'd have nothing to lose by complaining and saying the wording isn't clear.

sal_III

The way I see it it's clearly an out building. Just because it's not detached, doesn't change the fact that it can be accessed from outside your property, even if it's a communal area for the 4 flats behind an external gate, it's no different to a shed in a house garden, that is behind the a locked gate to the garden. If anything it's worse, since 3 neighbours already have access.

Your relative knew it's irregular and specifically asked if it's covered. What (s)he didn't do is read the policy document to see how much it's covered for.

learning110

Hello,

Thank you for all of your input. This is what I expected to be honest but always worthwhile getting further opinions.

Many thanks!