Who has the best legal cover with house insurance?

climpies

My house insurance is due for renewal and I'm looking for advise on who has the best legal cover for a potential (likely) future problem.

My attatched neighbour has planning permission for an extension. He's also a sort of builder and has a long history of laws are for other people and he can do what he likes.
He will be digging foundations directly next to our house wall / the boundary, and so will need a party wall notice to do it legally. It's very likely he'll just turn up with a mini digger one day and start digging. 
His plans also include building on our land (no permission has been asked for).

So I definitely need some good legal cover that will react quickly, and not a call centre in Mumbai advising I discuss it with next door. Any suggestions? 

XRS200

Don't know, but there are only a few providers so I don't imagine cover will vary much.

ellenvan

Maybe find a local insurance brokers - that way you are calling them first if there is a problem.

Also be aware that if you know there is/may be a problem when buying the insurance some companies may not want to cover you.

user1977

Think you'll also need to consider whether you'll be covered if you already know trouble is brewing before you take out the policy. 

youth_leader

Are any of your friends members of 'Which'?  Which provide detailed analysis of various 'recommended' providers and they do update them regularly.  The legal section might be included in their charts?

climpies

Technically he's done nothing wrong yet. I agree I'd have trouble getting insured if he'd stuck a spade in the ground. Just a feeling of foreboding doom, hence wanting the best cover for if my spidey sense is correct. 

Brie

If you think he's planning to build on your land perhaps you need to get in there first and put up a new fence or similar??? 

TELLIT01

I can't suggest who may be best, but we have legal protection from Direct Line and I would suggest they would definitely not fall into that category.

climpies

Brie said:

If you think he's planning to build on your land perhaps you need to get in there first and put up a new fence or similar??? 

It's complicated. There is a boundary wall that's clearly built on our land. His plans have the wall becoming part of his extension. To build another of his walls where it is on the plans he will have to saw 6 inches off our extension's concrete slab roof. To say I'm expecting problems would be an understatement.

youth_leader

I am sorry.  I was very nervous when I found out my neighbour was replacing his 'glass' conservatory and searched for the planning permission for weeks .... but as he was using the original glass conservatory 'footprint', he didn't need it.  As it is solid brick, rather than glass, it does make a 'light' difference in my garden/back bedroom, but I've let it go.

As your party wall is involved, you should be getting two months notice - he needs your approval to start - Party walls and building work: Overview - GOV.UK