Claim through contents or building insurance, or Neighbour direct??

izoomzoom

Last summer, we had a new wooden shed installed in the bottom of our garden.
Sometime over winter or early spring, our neighbour had a tree cut down - which was right on our boundary but in their property.
We've now discovered that the people they hired must have dropped a significant branch as our shed roof has 3 significant cracks in its wooden roof.
We spoke to the neighbour, they came around and looked and then came back and said they couldn't find any contact details for the 'tree surgeons'. We suspect they may not be insured.
We have contents insurance, but our leaseholder is responsible for building insurance, or should we claim direct from the neighbour?

davidmcn

What's the cost of fixing a shed roof? Wouldn't have thought it worthwhile going to insurers, unless it's quite a posh/big shed.

It's your neighbour's liability as far as you're concerned anyway, so if they're not disputing liability just ask them to reimburse you the cost.

Sandtree

izoomzoom said:

We've now discovered that the people they hired must have dropped a significant branch as our shed roof has 3 significant cracks in its wooden roof.

What evidence do you have that this is the case?  Sounds like  the alleged incident happened 4-6 months ago and you have only now discovered the issue? I'm guessing this is pure supposition and so not a strong position to go after the neighbour.

How much was the quote to fix it? How much is your policy excess? Have you spoken to your neighbour about them contributing to the repair costs?

TELLIT01

I agree with Sandtree.  Unless the neighbour actually admits that they know the contractor caused the damage you stand very little chance of recouping any costs from them.