Settlement / buildings insurance

WinchesterMike

Hello

Looking for some advice on buildings insurance please!

I recently bought a flat in Scotland, in which the home report says the following under the section on Subsidence, settlement and landslip

"There is evidence of a settlement in the building but this does not appear to be inconsistent with a property of this age and type and is considered unlikely to prove progressive."

So naturally, when looking at buildings insurance, on the section that asks about settlement, I answer honestly and say "yes" - and don't have the ability to give any further information, such as the clarification from the surveyor that it is not inconsistent with a property of that age/type etc..  and as a result an exclusion applies to any claims arising from settlement/subsidence .

My question is simply, can I get a buildings insurance policy without such exclusions without paying a lot more?  Even though the surveyor's report says it is unlikely to prove progressive, it is still worrying that I am not covered!

Thanks

DullGreyGuy

There isnt a Factor/Management company buying the buildings insurance? Thought even in Scotland the mess of individual flats trying to buy buildings insurance was coming to an end. 

Most companies dont ask about settlement so not sure where you've been looking that does.

WinchesterMike

DullGreyGuy said:

There isnt a Factor/Management company buying the buildings insurance? Thought even in Scotland the mess of individual flats trying to buy buildings insurance was coming to an end. 

Most companies dont ask about settlement so not sure where you've been looking that does.

Nope no factor/management company!

I had used compare the market, but I will try getting quotes directly with a few companies, thank you!

user1977

WinchesterMike said:

DullGreyGuy said:

There isnt a Factor/Management company buying the buildings insurance? Thought even in Scotland the mess of individual flats trying to buy buildings insurance was coming to an end. 

Most companies dont ask about settlement so not sure where you've been looking that does.

Nope no factor/management company!

I had used compare the market, but I will try getting quotes directly with a few companies, thank you!

Compare the Market doesn't ask about settlement. Here are their nearest relevant questions (just been doing a quote myself):


Surveyors' comments such as yours are the rule rather than the exception for any sort of older property (I'd swear many just copy and paste it in even if they haven't spotted settlement!) so really not noteworthy from an insurance point of view.

No idea about DullGreyGuy's comments re. individual policies coming to an end, I'm not aware of anything going on which would encourage that (other than modern developments will generally have factors in charge so more newbuilds = a greater proportion of flats with block policies).

WinchesterMike

user1977 said:

WinchesterMike said:

DullGreyGuy said:

There isnt a Factor/Management company buying the buildings insurance? Thought even in Scotland the mess of individual flats trying to buy buildings insurance was coming to an end. 

Most companies dont ask about settlement so not sure where you've been looking that does.

Nope no factor/management company!

I had used compare the market, but I will try getting quotes directly with a few companies, thank you!

Compare the Market doesn't ask about settlement. Here are their nearest relevant questions (just been doing a quote myself):


Surveyors' comments such as yours are the rule rather than the exception for any sort of older property (I'd swear many just copy and paste it in even if they haven't spotted settlement!) so really not noteworthy from an insurance point of view.

No idea about DullGreyGuy's comments re. individual policies coming to an end, I'm not aware of anything going on which would encourage that (other than modern developments will generally have factors in charge so more newbuilds = a greater proportion of flats with block policies).

Ah, I just assumed that  ground movement was the same as settlement.... silly! I will get the policy changed!