Next Door Removed Load Bearing Walls

Blasie

Hi, I live in a semi-detached house, and some years ago, my neighbour took down 2 internal load bearing walls. (prior to me moving in) I've just found out that 

 he didn't obtain building regulations approval for the removal of the loadbearing walls and he didn't employ a structural engineer, so I would assume this is unauthorized work and his insurance company would not have insured his house?  Apparently the builder who did the work was a 'friend', and he actually pushed a hole into the plaster with one of the beams under the stairs of my house while the work was being carried out.   Does anyone know if buildings insurance would still insure his house under these circumstances and should I be worried if events in the future would cause a collapse, and affect my house?  

MyRealNameToo

Blasie said:

Hi, I live in a semi-detached house, and some years ago, my neighbour took down 2 internal load bearing walls. (prior to me moving in) I've just found out that 

 he didn't obtain building regulations approval for the removal of the loadbearing walls and he didn't employ a structural engineer, so I would assume this is unauthorized work and his insurance company would not have insured his house?  Apparently the builder who did the work was a 'friend', and he actually pushed a hole into the plaster with one of the beams under the stairs of my house while the work was being carried out.   Does anyone know if buildings insurance would still insure his house under these circumstances and should I be worried if events in the future would cause a collapse, and affect my house?  

Having build regs sign off etc is not a requirement for insurance. 

Insurers exclude defective workmanship and design issues and whilst it's certainly a better idea to have engineers and building regs etc the lack of them doesnt automatically mean that the design and workmanship is poor. It could be an engineer may have suggested a 13 or 16 kg/m ibeam was required but the builder was cautious and so put in a 19kg/m beam then its not defective or poor design but just more expensive than an engineer may have calculated was necessary. 

Equally have seen claims declined because conservatories are subsiding didnt have foundations up to the standard required at the time it was built and some of those had building reg sign off 

user1977

As above it isn't going to magically invalidate any insurance policy. His insurance is unlikely to cover him for damage to his own property caused by negligent work, but should cover for damage to neighbours. But I'm guessing you don't know for certain that he even has (or will maintain) insurance. And whether he's insured for your house collapsing wouldn't be my main concern!

sheenas

Not an expect, but if your expecting his house insurance to pay for repairs to your house (caused by an issue with his house), then I am sure thats not the case.

For sure if a flat has a water leak and floods another flat below, it's the flat below insurance that pay for the repair, i think the same would apply here.

MyRealNameToo

sheenas said:

Not an expect, but if your expecting his house insurance to pay for repairs to your house (caused by an issue with his house), then I am sure thats not the case.

For sure if a flat has a water leak and floods another flat below, it's the flat below insurance that pay for the repair, i think the same would apply here.

Depends on contracts and the tort of negligence. 

In a flat if you knew you had a leaking drain and continued to use the sink for months anyway without doing anything about the water pouring out then you would be paying for downstairs' repairs if they can prove it or you admit it.