House Insurance - fire risk from hoarder neighbour

Ells2020

Hi,
I live in a terraced house and have a neighbour who has a severe hoarding disorder. His property is full to the rafters with flamable items, the electricity hasnt been checked or updated in a very long time and he has a rodent issue. Basically both he and his property are a serious fire hazard. If a fire started the firemen would not be able to get in to the house to control the blaze so it would inevitably spread to our property. Unfortunately the local council won't do anything to manage the situation.
I think its extremely unlikely that he has house insurance and even if he did I doubt it would be valid given his neglect of the property.
My question is - Regarding house insurance would we be covered in the event of a fire starting in his property and spreading to ours? 
Thanks in advance!

FlameCloud

Assuming it was not proven to be you that started the fire, yes a standard risks buildings/contents policy would cover a spread of fire from the neighbours. 

davidmcn

Insurance normally works on the basis that you know nothing about the state of your neighbours' properties, so it wouldn't normally be an issue. But given that you seem to know a surprising amount about your neighbour's electrics, maybe there is a principle that you ought to disclose that to your insurers.

daveyjp

A number of Councils now have Hoarders Frameworks, info via Google.

If yours doesn't contact their head of Housing and ask why they aren't being responsive to a genuine concern you have about a health hazard.

dacouch

davidmcn said:

Insurance normally works on the basis that you know nothing about the state of your neighbours' properties, so it wouldn't normally be an issue. But given that you seem to know a surprising amount about your neighbour's electrics, maybe there is a principle that you ought to disclose that to your insurers.

There is no such principle, if the Insurer wants to know any information they have to ask a clear question about it, if they don't ask then there is no obligation on the customer to volunteer information they have not asked about

davidmcn

dacouch said:

davidmcn said:

Insurance normally works on the basis that you know nothing about the state of your neighbours' properties, so it wouldn't normally be an issue. But given that you seem to know a surprising amount about your neighbour's electrics, maybe there is a principle that you ought to disclose that to your insurers.

There is no such principle, if the Insurer wants to know any information they have to ask a clear question about it, if they don't ask then there is no obligation on the customer to volunteer information they have not asked about

You don't think the principle of uberrima fides applies? i.e. "all parties to an insurance contract must deal in good faith, making a full declaration of all material facts in the insurance proposal." You don't necessarily need to wait until the insurer asks a relevant question.

FlameCloud

davidmcn said:

dacouch said:

davidmcn said:

Insurance normally works on the basis that you know nothing about the state of your neighbours' properties, so it wouldn't normally be an issue. But given that you seem to know a surprising amount about your neighbour's electrics, maybe there is a principle that you ought to disclose that to your insurers.

There is no such principle, if the Insurer wants to know any information they have to ask a clear question about it, if they don't ask then there is no obligation on the customer to volunteer information they have not asked about

You don't think the principle of uberrima fides applies? i.e. "all parties to an insurance contract must deal in good faith, making a full declaration of all material facts in the insurance proposal." You don't necessarily need to wait until the insurer asks a relevant question.

This would not be the case for a consumer contract - utmost good faith in relation to disclosures went out of the window in consumer contracts with CIDRA 2012, and was replaced with a consumer having only to answer the questions an insurer asked truthfully. 

dacouch

davidmcn said:

dacouch said:

davidmcn said:

Insurance normally works on the basis that you know nothing about the state of your neighbours' properties, so it wouldn't normally be an issue. But given that you seem to know a surprising amount about your neighbour's electrics, maybe there is a principle that you ought to disclose that to your insurers.

There is no such principle, if the Insurer wants to know any information they have to ask a clear question about it, if they don't ask then there is no obligation on the customer to volunteer information they have not asked about

You don't think the principle of uberrima fides applies? i.e. "all parties to an insurance contract must deal in good faith, making a full declaration of all material facts in the insurance proposal." You don't necessarily need to wait until the insurer asks a relevant question.

No because the law changed a few years ago
https://www.abi.org.uk/globalassets/sitecore/files/documents/publications/public/migrated/consumer-insurance-act/consumer-insurance-act-recommendations.pdf

csgohan4

Social services have social workers who deal with Hoarders with links to the fire service and mental health if needed. Maybe something to consider

Ells2020

csgohan4 said:

Social services have social workers who deal with Hoarders with links to the fire service and mental health if needed. Maybe something to consider

I’ve contacted the council but they don’t seem to be taking it very seriously. Which is bad because he’s clearly poorly and not looking after himself.