How do I buy house insurance as an attorney for my mum who is unfit?

RubarbDC

How do I buy house insurance as an attorney for my mum who is unfit?

I lived with and looked after mum, who has dementia, for 3 years before she went into care. I still live in her home, and I need to get building insurance in her name.

Online quote forms don't allow for this setup. Do I complete them as her, using her name and details and saying we are lodgers, or do I complete them as me, except I'm not the homeowner?

Or - do I have to pick up the phone and talk to a person directly?

Her current insurance expires soon, and I want to get competitive quotes for the buildings insurance, and then get my own contents insurance separately.

Many thanks in advance for your clever insights

Flugelhorn

can you not get insurance in your name as you are the resident of the property?

user1977

Flugelhorn said:

can you not get insurance in your name as you are the resident of the property?

But it's not their risk (at least as far as the building is concerned), it should be in mum's name. There are insurers who do this sort of set-up, try LV+ as I used them for "second property occupied by family".

Mark_d

If you have Power of Attorney for your mum's financial affairs, then you should absolutely call the insurance company and ask what the process is.

Unfortunately I don't think your mum will recover from her illness...so what happens to the house?  Does it need to be sold to pay for her care costs?

RubarbDC

Mark_d said:

If you have Power of Attorney for your mum's financial affairs, then you should absolutely call the insurance company and ask what the process is.

That's what I suspected. She has been with the same insurer for years, so I'll ask them for a buildings only quote and then phone round some other folk too.

Thanks for your concern re house etc, as I've been living in the property for 3 years, it should be disregarded as selling it would make me and my family homeless. But still waiting on a financial assessment from the council so all a bit in limbo at the moment.

DullGreyGuy

I'd do quotes online entering the details as if you were your mum. That will identify the insurers offering the better prices for you. 

As close family members "lodgers" wouldnt normally be a term applied, presumably you dont have a contract with her or pay her rent? 

Once you've decided on the providers then switch to the phone to describe the scenario and how you should proceed... this assumes you have an appropriate power of attorney or the Court of Protection has made you her Deputy.