Declare underpinning to home insurance?

saunders1989

Before I start obviously you need to declare it if you know about it.

my situation is a bit confusing. I bought a house which was a bungalow before it was converted into a 2 story house which we bought. I have looked on the planning portal for my local authority and makes no mention of underpinning.

I instructed a full building survey when buying the property and he made no mention of underpinning in his report.

I’ve looked at the ta6 form and the works completed just references the work on the planning application. 

I’ve looked at final building certificate and it makes no mention of underpinning.

the only hint I have of it is I bumped into the builder and he mentioned they did underpin it to hold the weight of the roof. 

Do I declare it is underpinned? If I don’t and something happens and it turns out it is underpinned my insurance will be void. I’m not sure what to do.

Doozergirl

The underpinning is to meet the building regulations for the extension, that isn't the same as subsidence.    

If there is a question specific to *underpinning* and not *subsidence*, then you'd answer it honestly, but if I recall, I think the question is about the property suffering subsidence and that answer is *no*

saunders1989

Thanks

on compare the market it does ask if property is underpinned I say yes and then it asks does it continue to suffer from underpinning. I guess I’d say no to that as it’s just for foundations for the extension of additional load

Doozergirl

Nothing 'continues to suffer from underpinning' 

you need to understand what it is.  It's just foundations.   You can't build an extension without foundations, which is why yours is underpinned - it is the foundations for your extended building.  

Subsidence is structural movement that should not occur.   Underpinning is a resolution for that because it gives the house foundations.  The problem is subsidence, not underpinning.  

Subsidence is an insurance issue.  Building foundations to meet the building regulations for an extension is not. 

Read up or you're going to end up with an expensive bill for no reason

saunders1989

I understand that but the issue I have is on compare the market form.

I obviously answer yes to:

Has your house ever had any underpinning or structural support?

Then I get asked this next question which makes no sense.

 “Is your house continuing to suffer from underpinning or structural support?”

That is what is most confusing. I get the difference between underpinning for foundations and subscidence but that second question has made me doubt a few things hence asking this to try and see what others thought

movilogo

If a bungalow is converted to 2 storey building, then obviously foundation needs to be supported/strengthened which is same as underpinning.

In general, insurers want to know about underpinning on the context that original house had settled/moved from its position and correction action was taken by underpinning.

So, IMHO, you don't have to say anything on insurance form. What builder had verbally said to you is irrelevant. 

saunders1989

Thanks I’m just trying to answer insurance questions as honest as possible to not be stung later down should I ever need it

Doozergirl

That is a nonsensical question if they are asking it. 

Screenshots?  

Try the other comparison websites to see if they offer more sensible questions. 

silvercar

saunders1989 said:

the only hint I have of it is I bumped into the builder and he mentioned they did underpin it to hold the weight of the roof. 

What someone said in an off record chat is irrelevant in this context. But even so, what he said could be reworded to be that the foundations were strengthened to support the extension.

saunders1989

Here is the question  I agree it makes no sense. Which is why I’ve ended up asking on here.

First screenshot is where I say yes to being underpinned. Second screenshot is the weird question.

EssexExile

I assume when you actually choose which insurance company to go for then you will have to fill in their specific form, that is when you have to be honest. If it's not clear what they are asking then it's best to contact them to clarify. Our garage was underpinned when we built above it and I told Esure just to be safe, it didn't cause them to increase the premium or refuse to insure us.