Home Contents Insurance and Cladding

Diamond78

Hi Everyone,
I rent my home from a housing association and wanting to take out home contents insurance but I’m unsure of what our building walls are made of. I know we have cladding as well as wooden balconies and I have been asking my landlord for the details of materials used but they keep refusing to give me the cladding report. I contacted my MP and the council and now my land,rod has stated they would meet me for me to view the details. I’m shielding and self isolating due to the pandemic so that is not an option for me and my landlord is deliberately avoiding giving me the details I’ve asked for because we know our building is not safe. The landlord states that the cladding report is a commercial document therefore cannot be circulated. 

Due to our building having a fire in 2017 and a further fire in the street next to us, which my landlord also owns, I have been asking for details about the cladding but they won’t budge. How can I answer the questions when applying for home insurance if I don’t know what the walls are made of? We are really worried in case of another fire so I need to make sure I take out the correct cover. 

Thank you.

Sandtree

The insurers will want to know what the structural element of the building is - brick, stone, woodframe etc - rather than any declarative element over the top such as cladding or pebble dash etc.