My house flooded and my neighbour is demanding money for damages to his home.

Sabbir

I was on holiday and my house flooded because of the water tank in my attic . My neighbour has sent me photos of one of his rooms and a bit or wallpaper  peeling off the wall. He initially asked for £2k for damages as he is himself a builder. But when I askeed him again he said £4450 and it could be more if he lifts the floorboards up and finds further damage, he wants to replaster and refloor one room and change the skirting boards in another room. I said he was asking for a lot of money and that I was expecting I had to pay him £2k but now he has increased his estimated cost to £4450. He said to give him £2k for materials now and I can pay the rest in installments. I feel he is overinflating the costs. Also he said his insurance does not cover the damage, but I find this difficult to believe as surely his insurance would cover him for water damage? Any help would be appreaciated.

Robin9

Have you made a claim on your insurance ?    If so pass his claim to them and they will appoint an assessor 

prowla

This is what insurance is for.

Flugelhorn

Don't pay him, your insurance company will sort this - that is what it is for

Sabbir

Yes I have made a claim, but when the loss adjuster from my insurance company came to my house he said to me that it was accident my insurance comapany will not cover the damge to my neighbours property , but my neighbour should ask if his insurance will cover the damage to his property

user1977

This is what your own insurance is for - you pass on the neighbour's claim to your insurers and let them deal with it.

Sabbir

Thank you that is helpful

m0bov

Unless you were negligent, then your not at fault, its what insurance is for. Give him your insurance details and then stop communicating with him.

I suspect he is uninsured. If he gets aggressive, call the Police.

Sabbir

Thank you that is helpful

Flugelhorn

Sabbir said:

Yes I have made a claim, but when the loss adjuster from my insurance company came to my house he said to me that it was accident my insurance comapany will not cover the damge to my neighbours property , but my neighbour should ask if his insurance will cover the damage to his property

I wonder if it is like a car accident where you both contact your own and then the neighbour's insurers sort it out with your insurers (assuming of course your neighbour has insurance)

doodling

Hi,

To be absolutely clear, providing that the leak was not caused by your negligence then neither you or your insurers are in any way responsible to your neighbour.

It is for your neighbour to claim on his own insurance.  Given that your insurers have already told you that they believe it was an accident then there is no point in forwarding stuff from your neighbour on to them.

The only time you need to forward stuff to your insurers is if your neighbour sends you a letter threatening legal action, or you receive papers from a court.