I need help with my flooding and my neighbours demands for money

Sabbir

While I was abroad in Bangladesh for 76 days my home in London got flooded from the water tank in the attic.

My neighbour initially contacted me and said to me he wanted £2000 for damages to his house from my flooding and showed me photos of wallpaper coming off one of his walls. But when I asked him again about it again a week later he wanted £4500 and possible more if there is damage under his floorboards.

Also my neighbour told me his building insurance would not cover the damages.

With some advice I wrote to my neighbour “I maintain this was an accident and make no admission of liability. I need to establish the facts with my insurance company, and I will get back to you.”

I have spoken to my insurance company loss adjuster , and he told me my insurance covers me for my house and my neighbours insurance should cover him for his property.

My neighbour recently wrote to me to  start making instalments so he can start work on his house.

I wrote to him it was an accident and he wrote back

“i know it was accident but who is going to pay for my damage, already i have paid  for  drying  the walls and for checking where was the fault and i need to start repairing”

 

What should I say to my neighbour.

Should I ask him why his insurance is not paying?

Should I tell him to go to the insurance ombudsman?

Even though it was an accident should I offer him some money ? Say between £500 to £1500 for goodwill and to leave me alone?

Or should I be cold and say it was an accident and not my fault and I am not paying him any money?

 

I would appreciate some advice or suggestions.

Thank you.

kazwookie

I would give his details to your insurance company and let them get on with it.

sheramber

if the flood was not caused by your negligence  then you are not liable for the damage to your neighbour's house and he needs to claim from his insurance.

Why did the water tank cause the flooding?  

Sabbir

My insurance company said he should deal with it with his insurance, my plumber said he had to change the ball on the tank. But I do not know why the tank flooded. The insurance asked me to ask the plumber if it was due to freezing weather, but the plumber does not knowif it was cold weather because he was not there at the time of the flood.

MEM62

Unless you were negligent, and on the face of it it would not appear so, you are not responsible for the damage to your neighbor's house.  He will have to claim off his own insurance.  

Robin9

@Sabbir   Any reason why this is the 3rd time you've posted with the same issue 

Sabbir

Thanks Robin , it is the second time I posted on the issue, and the other time was partly due to dealing with the loss adjuster who has now accepted liability for the claim, this time it is for which is the best response for dealing with my neighbour

GDB2222

Sabbir said:

Thanks Robin , it is the second time I posted on the issue, and the other time was partly due to dealing with the loss adjuster who has now accepted liability for the claim, this time it is for which is the best response for dealing with my neighbour

Oh, I am delighted (and surprised!) to hear that your insurers will cover this after all. You must forward the neighbour's claim to your insurers, and let them deal with it.

Home insurance normally covers liability claims of this sort, and your insurers will be experts on whether you are liable. Just leave it to them.

m0bov

Don't communicate with your neighbour any more, don't write letters.

Sabbir

Thank you GDB2222, when I asked for the loss adjusters advice he told me my neighbour should deal with his insurance, I must admit I am afraid of pushing the loss adjuster to deal with my neighbour , because the loss adjuster did not say my insurance will deal with  my neighbour. My policy does not say I have I have liability added on.

Sabbir

Thanks m0bov, if I stop communicating with my neighbour , I will have a bad relationship, is this what is needed?