Home insurance cancelled due to neighbour's work?

ThisIsWeird

This is strange, Kai, and I suspect an error by the person you dealt with.
The 'buildings' insurance is, of course, handled by the FH, and they've already approved this work. Presumably the FH has informed this insurer about the work, but that's not your problem.
Have you checked it's all being done under Building Control supervision? If so, then inform your insurer of this. 

DullGreyGuy

The security arrangements are what are on your front door not the communal door of the building. 

Kai_63

ThisIsWeird said:

This is strange, Kai, and I suspect an error by the person you dealt with.
The 'buildings' insurance is, of course, handled by the FH, and they've already approved this work. Presumably the FH has informed this insurer about the work, but that's not your problem.
Have you checked it's all being done under Building Control supervision? If so, then inform your insurer if this. 

Thank you, yes I think it's just caution on their part.

We jointly pay the building insurance so Ill speak to the FH about that as my name is on the same policy.

Building control/the council aren't aware of the chimney work below my own or the possible knocking down of the front of the house but these are the things I told the home insurer which triggered their response.

Kai_63

DullGreyGuy said:

The security arrangements are what are on your front door not the communal door of the building. 

But if the communal area is easier to access, and I have given information about that access to the property when I got the insurance originally, I wanted to make sure that easier access to my property wouldn't affect my policy either. Doesn't sound like it would though. 

DullGreyGuy

Kai_63 said:

DullGreyGuy said:

The security arrangements are what are on your front door not the communal door of the building. 

But if the communal area is easier to access, and I have given information about that access to the property when I got the insurance originally, I wanted to make sure that easier access to my property wouldn't affect my policy either. Doesn't sound like it would though. 

Are you sure you did? Dont know any provider that asks about communal doors, all Ive ever used or been involved in only ask about the door to your dwelling

Kai_63

DullGreyGuy said:

Kai_63 said:

DullGreyGuy said:

The security arrangements are what are on your front door not the communal door of the building. 

But if the communal area is easier to access, and I have given information about that access to the property when I got the insurance originally, I wanted to make sure that easier access to my property wouldn't affect my policy either. Doesn't sound like it would though. 

Are you sure you did? Dont know any provider that asks about communal doors, all Ive ever used or been involved in only ask about the door to your dwelling

Below is what Compare the Market say about the main door, which is where I got my insurance via. The first and most visible external door to the shared hallway is a 'proper external door' with letterbox. The door inside the hallway is more like a strong internal door with locks. So I think they might have a security question potentially (though I didn't push them on this point as I'm more concerned about the structure).

"We would classify your main door as the primary door used to gain access to the property. Which door would the postman put letters through? This is most likely your main door as it’s the most visible.

DullGreyGuy

Seeing as we are talking about Compare the Market, their question on building work is:

Is your flat undergoing any building work? Answer yes, if there’s any ongoing or incomplete building work. You don’t have to tell us if you’re just hanging a picture on the wall.

As such you'd not be obligated to inform them of work being done in a neighbouring flat. 


The issue is "your property" is your flat not the general building and so should be answered in relation to your flat not the building. Were that not the case my old flat in student times wouldn't have been able to get any quotes as the ground floor door to the building had no lock at all and no insurer offers the option of "no lock" when declaring security. 

If the door to your flat is only an internal door then I'd be getting that changed promptly, it could also have issues with fire safety rules given your door opens to a communal corridor and not the outside world. 

ThisIsWeird

I hadn't realised that 'security' was the reason for them cancelling the policy. I'd assumed it was due to the risk of damage to your flat, and the potential for a claim - although the builder/other flat owner would surely be liable for that.

Wow - they are really finicky!

Kai_63

ThisIsWeird said:

I hadn't realised that 'security' was the reason for them cancelling the policy. I'd assumed it was due to the risk of damage to your flat, and the potential for a claim - although the builder/other flat owner would surely be liable for that.

Wow - they are really finicky!

No to be honest I asked them originally on the basis of structural concerns and what they'd cover or not. They didn't mention security but it was in the back of my mind as a possible question, given that the hallway might at some point be less secure. It's quite complex. But yes they are finicky because at the moment they are saying work in another flat invalidates my insurance! 

I think on the basis of the advice given pn this forum, I'll escalate it to customer service in writing and send the notice I'm getting from my neighbour. I just don't want them turning around later saying they weren't clear on what work was happening. If they say no then I have the option of getting a refund and going elsewhere.

Kai_63

DullGreyGuy said:

Seeing as we are talking about Compare the Market, their question on building work is:

Is your flat undergoing any building work? Answer yes, if there’s any ongoing or incomplete building work. You don’t have to tell us if you’re just hanging a picture on the wall.

As such you'd not be obligated to inform them of work being done in a neighbouring flat. 


The issue is "your property" is your flat not the general building and so should be answered in relation to your flat not the building. Were that not the case my old flat in student times wouldn't have been able to get any quotes as the ground floor door to the building had no lock at all and no insurer offers the option of "no lock" when declaring security. 

If the door to your flat is only an internal door then I'd be getting that changed promptly, it could also have issues with fire safety rules given your door opens to a communal corridor and not the outside world. 

It looks like an internal door but I'm not saying it is. The surveyor didn't pick anything up when I bought it. I was just trying to illustrate that the main external door is more like a traditional door with letterbox and window panes etc.