Insurance company cancels policy during an active claim

Hinemt05

We currently have an active insurance claim set to expire in late August. The repair work underway is expected to take at least six more weeks to complete. However, we've received notice from our insurer stating that they will not be renewing our policy.

This raises two major concerns:

1. What happens if, during the ongoing repairs, additional serious issues are uncovered?

2. Based on what others have shared, it seems finding a new insurer while a claim is still active could be quite difficult.

We’d really appreciate any advice or experiences others can share—especially if you've faced a similar situation or found a way forward

Mark_d

So an active insurance claim is repairing your roof because a tree fell on it.  If the additional issues found are rotten beams, then these are a a maintenance issue and would not be covered by any insurance.  However, if it is discovered that the tree falling on your roof also smashed a large ceramic plant pot in your attic, then I believe your same insurance would cover this as your same claim for, for tree damage, is ongoing.

Hinemt05

Hi Mark, Thank you for your insight. An initial investigation has confirmed that an accident did occur. However, the full extent of the damage will only become clear once the team has been able to completely remove the surrounding items. So far, the damage identified has not revealed anything unexpected. 

MyRealNameToo

Hinemt05 said:

We currently have an active insurance claim set to expire in late August. The repair work underway is expected to take at least six more weeks to complete. However, we've received notice from our insurer stating that they will not be renewing our policy.

This raises two major concerns:

1. What happens if, during the ongoing repairs, additional serious issues are uncovered?

2. Based on what others have shared, it seems finding a new insurer while a claim is still active could be quite difficult.

We’d really appreciate any advice or experiences others can share—especially if you've faced a similar situation or found a way forward

1. Depends if they are related to the incident that caused the loss?  All consumer insurance is written on a date of loss basis so all that matters is when the incident occurred the insurance was active, doesnt matter what happened to the policy afterwards (obvious ignoring the policy be voided which would mean it was never in force)

Assuming it's related damage the insurer still deals with it. If not an insured loss, like the rot example above, then it never would have been covered anyway.

2. Depends what the class of insurance is and how major the repairs. Car insurance has no issues taking someone on with an ongoing claim. Home insurance is more difficult to get but then if its major works you need a specialist policy for the duration of the repairs anyway. 

Keep_pedalling

They are not cancelling your policy, they just won’t renew it. It should not impact your ongoing claim. 

Annemos

Please see this from the Association of British Insurers. 


https://www.abi.org.uk/products-and-issues/topics-and-issues/flooding/recovering-from-a-flood/guidance-on-continuation-of-buildings-insurance-cover-while-a-property-is-undergoing-repairs/#:~:text=This%20ABI%20good%20practice%20guidance%20sets%20out%20an,until%20the%20repairs%20on%20their%20property%20are%20completed.


Is your actual Insurance Company and ABI member?

(Even if it isn't, I wonder if this would be considered to be accepted industry good practice anyway.) 


https://www.abi.org.uk/about-the-abi/abi-members/


You might like to try this route with your Insurer. 

Hinemt05

Thank you Annemos, really appreciated. 

We’re currently facing significant challenges securing insurance coverage from the date our existing policy expires. Unfortunately, every provider we've contacted so far has declined to offer a policy, whilst the current claim is active.

With the expiration date fast approaching, our concern is growing. If anyone has recommendations for boat insurance providers we could reach out to, we’d be extremely grateful.

Annemos

I have just been looking at an Ombudsman case. And this was stated it it......

 
" Because Mr L had a cancelled policy and an ongoing claim, potentially for subsidence, his options for obtaining a new policy were severely limited. That meant getting in touch with the ABI, and a specialist broker, for support"


I just looked at the ABI website and they do not actually do this, but they do recommend contacting BIBA instead.  

Here is the Link for BIBA:   hopefully they can help you with this.

 https://www.biba.org.uk/find-insurance/

(Click box in there for Boats.)

XRS200

Annemos said:

I have just been looking at an Ombudsman case. And this was stated it it......

 
" Because Mr L had a cancelled policy and an ongoing claim, potentially for subsidence, his options for obtaining a new policy were severely limited. That meant getting in touch with the ABI, and a specialist broker, for support"


I just looked at the ABI website and they do not actually do this, but they do recommend contacting BIBA instead.  

Here is the Link for BIBA:   hopefully they can help you with this.

 https://www.biba.org.uk/find-insurance/

(Click box in there for Boats.)

I don't think the OP has a cancelled policy nor subsidence.

A broker should help though.

Annemos

XRS200 said:

I don't think the OP has a cancelled policy nor subsidence.

A broker should help though.

Sorry, my comment was confusing.... I just meant that I had been looking at another "difficult to insure" Property.  And what was advised.