Responsibility for house insurance after death of the policy holder?

Sea_Shell

troubleinparadise said:

Sea_Shell said:

Is he paying by monthly direct debit, from his account?

Whose name is the policy in?

He has been paying the premium as a monthly direct debit from his account.
The policy was in his late mother’s name, but has now been changed to “The Executors of Mrs X”

Give the executors warning, to arrange alternative cover and then cancel your DD.   Alternatively, they can contact the insurer and change the DD to a new account.

But no, you don't have to keep paying.

troubleinparadise

Flugelhorn said:

he definitely doesn't - the estate is now responsible 

Thanks, Flugelhorn.  I am thinking (hoping?) that the Solicitors acting for the Executors will put this right.  I suspect the sister has not understood the role or responsibilities of The Executors, and has spoken from a stance of misunderstanding.

These things still require a bit of “eggshell tiptoeing“ to address!

troubleinparadise

Thanks to you all for replying - I have the definitive answer now!

Sandtree

Just to clarify its not "putting it right", its changing the arrangement.

As has already been pointed out, unless he has been named as an authorised third party on the insurance he cannot cancel the policy itself. If he no longer wants to help out, and its understandable why not, he can cancel the DD with his bank. If he does this uncoordinated with the Executors then this will result in the insurance being cancelled for non-payment in a few weeks time.

A better route to take is to speak to the Executors, advise you were paying for the insurance as a gesture of goodwill and you do not intend to continue to do so. They can then either change the payment details of the existing policy or cancel the policy and buy a new one elsewhere - their choice and nothing to do with you.

After you've informed the Executors, cancel the DD, if you are within a week or so of the DD being taken it may make things smoother to let that one payment go and then cancel the DD but choice is yours - that way you are covered if they somehow "forget" to make the alterations.

poppystar

Also the executors need to be sure that the existing policy would now be appropriate. If the house is unoccupied then that is unlikely to be the case after a certain number of days has elapsed (usually 30 or 60). They need to check this out. At the very least the insurer might put conditions or change the scope of the existing policy. If they are just concerned about who continues the direct debit payments they may be missing a bigger potential issue. You might tactfully mention this along with the who pays discussion.

Flugelhorn

poppystar said:

Also the executors need to be sure that the existing policy would now be appropriate. If the house is unoccupied then that is unlikely to be the case after a certain number of days has elapsed (usually 30 or 60). They need to check this out. At the very least the insurer might put conditions or change the scope of the existing policy. If they are just concerned about who continues the direct debit payments they may be missing a bigger potential issue. You might tactfully mention this along with the who pays discussion.

I found that the insurers wanted the empty property checked on a weekly basis, I was at a distance and helpful neighbour did this for me, keeping notes in case it was every questioned! 

badger09

Flugelhorn said:

poppystar said:

Also the executors need to be sure that the existing policy would now be appropriate. If the house is unoccupied then that is unlikely to be the case after a certain number of days has elapsed (usually 30 or 60). They need to check this out. At the very least the insurer might put conditions or change the scope of the existing policy. If they are just concerned about who continues the direct debit payments they may be missing a bigger potential issue. You might tactfully mention this along with the who pays discussion.

I found that the insurers wanted the empty property checked on a weekly basis, I was at a distance and helpful neighbour did this for me, keeping notes in case it was every questioned! 

Same here. Also, they are likely to impose additional requirements re water and heating, if property remains empty during the winter.