Previous owners windows

Tomyem

Hi,
Hopefully this is in the right place. Looking for some advice please.
Moved into this property just over a year ago (bought with partner).
My solicitor held up the sale towards completion as she wanted a indemnity policy issued as the previous owner had fitted the front room bay windows himself (builder by trade).
With the downpour last night our front room was turned into a paddling pool as water was coming in through multiple corners of the bay window (not a trickle, more of speed you'd pour a kettle in some places) and down the pcv that divides the central window from the two other windows (3 mop buckets and 12 towels full).
I was hoping to find out who would be my best first port of call with this.
I believe the previous owner has left the country and I assume the indemnity policy is more of a 3rd party liability if the council want to sue me for the window falling out onto the street or something rather than something I could claim on.
I have home insurance but would this be judged as an existing problem or such like?

Any advise would be great please. FTB so not had much experience of any of this.
Thanks in advance

eidand

you've been in the property for a year and you expect the previous owner to fix the issue? it's your house now.
I'd get someone to check / replace asap, preferably before the rain starts again.

RelievedSheff

As above. After a year you have no come back from the seller.

You will need to get this fixed yourself.

Tomyem

Cheers eidland, do you think I could claim this on house insurance though? Guess won't know for sure until I ask them but......

lincroft1710

My advice is to find a reputable glazing company and see if they can either repair or replace.

I'll give you 6 guesses as to who will be footing the bill. Clue, it won't be your vendor, solicitor, indemnity insurer, house insurer or me.

Comms69

Tomyem said:

Cheers eidland, do you think I could claim this on house insurance though? Guess won't know for sure until I ask them but......

Depends on your policy. 

davidmcn

The indemnity policy would be only to do with action for failure to comply with building regulations, not any sort of guarantee about the quality of the windows. Ordinary buildings insurance wouldn't be relevant for shoddy quality or lack of maintenance, only sudden events like storm damage.

Tomyem

lincroft1710 said:

My advice is to find a reputable glazing company and see if they can either repair or replace.

I'll give you 6 guesses as to who will be footing the bill. Clue, it won't be your vendor, solicitor, indemnity insurer, house insurer or me.

Thought that was where I was living ...waiting on call back from glazier Cheers for taking the time

Tomyem

Thanks all for the quick responses and info.

greatcrested

I'd think twice before calling your insurer.

Even if they decline your claim they will add the event to their records and it could affect future premiums.

And the chance of the claim being succesful are minimal.

princeofpounds

Personally I think you are much more likely to be able to claim on your house insurance than most commentators so far. But you may well not want to - with the excess and raised premiums after a claim you probably won't do that well out of it. Good luck with the repair.