Checking on unoccupied property

ilorah

Hi there,
Bit of an odd one! We're going through probate and selling my grandmothers house due to her death in January. The house is 120 miles from us and for insurance purposes, needs to be checked on once a week. There are no neighbors near by who can check on it (all elderly!) If anything happens to the house, we are then liable of course for the beneficiaries of the estate. Checking on the property is 'non essential' of course. Is anyone else in a similar situation? Up until recently, the estate agent was going in to check on it but of course cannot do so now. Any ideas? I assume many businesses for example are dealing with this too - I just can't afford for anything to go wrong with the place! Squatters etc.

pimento

Yes but not at so great a distance.  Our new house is a ten minute drive from us and we are unable to move in until the lock down ends.  We have been going every couple of days just to check all is well.  I haven't been stopped as yet but worry that I might be.

basill

ilorah said:

Hi there,
Bit of an odd one! We're going through probate and selling my grandmothers house due to her death in January. The house is 120 miles from us and for insurance purposes, needs to be checked on once a week. There are no neighbors near by who can check on it (all elderly!) If anything happens to the house, we are then liable of course for the beneficiaries of the estate. Checking on the property is 'non essential' of course. Is anyone else in a similar situation? Up until recently, the estate agent was going in to check on it but of course cannot do so now. Any ideas? I assume many businesses for example are dealing with this too - I just can't afford for anything to go wrong with the place! Squatters etc.

We are in the same position, the insurance initially required a weekly visit to the empty property,  at renewal of buildings insurance we changed to a policy with fortnightly inspections, longer intervals were available at slightly higher premium, your insurance company may be able to update your policy to allow less frequent inspections.  
We are currently continuing the inspections as "essential maintenance", one person, not meeting anyone else at the property.  
Has the estate agent stopped visits now?  I think maybe they would be allowed to travel as its part of their work that cannot be done from home.

The Gov.uk advice does not really cover our situation.  

basill

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home-moving-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

Undervalued

ilorah said:

Hi there,
Bit of an odd one! We're going through probate and selling my grandmothers house due to her death in January. The house is 120 miles from us and for insurance purposes, needs to be checked on once a week. There are no neighbors near by who can check on it (all elderly!) If anything happens to the house, we are then liable of course for the beneficiaries of the estate. Checking on the property is 'non essential' of course. Is anyone else in a similar situation? Up until recently, the estate agent was going in to check on it but of course cannot do so now. Any ideas? I assume many businesses for example are dealing with this too - I just can't afford for anything to go wrong with the place! Squatters etc.

The word "essential" seems to crop up in almost every thread, far more than it does in the emergency legislation! I can only suggest you read the actual rules, rather than the tabloid headlines and maybe run it past your solicitor if one is dealing with the estate.

If the insurance is void without a weekly check (and can't be changed) then to me this is as "essential" as large amounts of paid work that is still being carried out.

As I say, with the amount potentially at risk, I would take professional advice.

ilorah

basill said:

Thank you however, it is on the market but no buyer. I had already read this and cannot find where it mentions my situation.

ilorah

Undervalued said:

ilorah said:

Hi there,
Bit of an odd one! We're going through probate and selling my grandmothers house due to her death in January. The house is 120 miles from us and for insurance purposes, needs to be checked on once a week. There are no neighbors near by who can check on it (all elderly!) If anything happens to the house, we are then liable of course for the beneficiaries of the estate. Checking on the property is 'non essential' of course. Is anyone else in a similar situation? Up until recently, the estate agent was going in to check on it but of course cannot do so now. Any ideas? I assume many businesses for example are dealing with this too - I just can't afford for anything to go wrong with the place! Squatters etc.

The word "essential" seems to crop up in almost every thread, far more than it does in the emergency legislation! I can only suggest you read the actual rules, rather than the tabloid headlines and maybe run it past your solicitor if one is dealing with the estate.

If the insurance is void without a weekly check (and can't be changed) then to me this is as "essential" as large amounts of paid work that is still being carried out.

As I say, with the amount potentially at risk, I would take professional advice.

Thank you. I have taken advise and our local police have just advised us as it is non essential, we cannot travel to check on it

Undervalued

ilorah said:

Undervalued said:

ilorah said:

Hi there,
Bit of an odd one! We're going through probate and selling my grandmothers house due to her death in January. The house is 120 miles from us and for insurance purposes, needs to be checked on once a week. There are no neighbors near by who can check on it (all elderly!) If anything happens to the house, we are then liable of course for the beneficiaries of the estate. Checking on the property is 'non essential' of course. Is anyone else in a similar situation? Up until recently, the estate agent was going in to check on it but of course cannot do so now. Any ideas? I assume many businesses for example are dealing with this too - I just can't afford for anything to go wrong with the place! Squatters etc.

The word "essential" seems to crop up in almost every thread, far more than it does in the emergency legislation! I can only suggest you read the actual rules, rather than the tabloid headlines and maybe run it past your solicitor if one is dealing with the estate.

If the insurance is void without a weekly check (and can't be changed) then to me this is as "essential" as large amounts of paid work that is still being carried out.

As I say, with the amount potentially at risk, I would take professional advice.

Thank you. I have taken advise and our local police have just advised us as it is non essential, we cannot travel to check on it

Ummm.

It is not the job of the police to give legal advice!!

Obviously getting the insurance to agree to waive the weekly requirement would be the easy answer to the problem, if they will. If not, then it is more difficult. I am far from convinced that the police are interpreting the emergency legislation correctly. That was also the view a recently retired Supreme Court judge expressed on the radio yesterday. However, if you were to be stopped and issued with a fixed penalty it would be a considerable hassle to challenge it even if you are ultimately proved to have done nothing wrong.

Difficult!

Andy_L

What have the insurance company said?