Ski chalet sauna fire!

Chaletgal

Hi

My friends are on holiday in the alps. Last night the outdoor sauna burnt down! The host said something about the stove door being left open but my friends took pictures of it in the ashes and it is clearly shut. Now the host is asking for our insurance details?!?!?

In the contract for the chalet hire it says “ Insurance
The tenant agrees to insure against risks (fire, water damage) and to produce, on the day of entry into the premises, a copy or photocopy of the paid insurance policy with a reputable company. Lack of insurance, disaster, give rise to damages;“

Are we going to have to foot the bill? Help please!

Chaletgal

Ps we didn’t produce the insurance document up front, of course, and they didn’t ask for it

PasturesNew

I don't know, but, in an effort to be thoroughly unhelpful ... other countries' laws are different. Here's a hapless family holidaying in France whose chateau burnt down after being struck by lightning and they pointed to a similar clause in French law/their contract.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/our-holiday-chateau-burnt-down-wrdbcctps

Jono111

I am sure your insurance will still cover you even though you didn't show the document up front.

Chaletgal

Oh my word. The times article is paywalled. Any chance of a cut and paste please?

(At this point extremely grateful it was just a sauna)

Jonathan_Kelvin

Chaletgal wrote: »

Ps we didn’t produce the insurance document up front, of course, and they didn’t ask for it

I don’t think that it will matter if you didn’t have the certificate upfront, you should be able to claim on your policy as long as it was in place at the time of the fire.

Chaletgal

We just have standard holiday insurance, surely that won’t cover it?

swingaloo

So you didn't bother to get the insurance as stated on your contract?

csgohan4

swingaloo wrote: »

So you didn't bother to get the insurance as stated on your contract?

Oh dear....




OP the owner can say you just closed the oven and then took a picture after the fire which is possible.

bigisi

Chaletgal wrote: »

We just have standard holiday insurance, surely that won’t cover it?

Why are you asking us? You're the one with the policy documents why not read those and see if it will cover it?

sal_III

I don't think that whether the door on the stove was left open or not is much relevant.

The fact remains that you operated live fire on the premises and it ended up burned down "under your watch". I assume part of the rental agreement makes you liable for damages.

You can check with your travel insurance company if this event is covered, but I wouldn't hold my breath.