Leaseholder excess payment following roof leak that damaged my property

eddddy

Hopefully2025 said:

Yes I believe the freeholder the local council was negligent.  But they are not looking to do any major works anytime soon. They seem to only do temporary patch ups, so the leaks reoccur every year.

If you believe your freeholder was negligent, but your freeholder won't agree - ultimately, you'd have to make a court claim against them for your losses as a result of their negligence.

Hopefully2025 said:

I tried to claim on there insurance but there insurance company declined saying the local council are not liable and that I should claim on my insurance and pay the £250 excess.  

That sounds a bit like a "fob-off".

Which insurance? Do you mean buildings insurance? Who is responsible for buildings insurance, you or the freeholder?

In any case, as mentioned, damage caused by rain leaking through a roof due to wear and tear is very unlikely to be covered by any insurance policy.

huckster said:

As an individual leasehold flat owner, under your Contents Insurance, you can Insure your ceilings, internal flat walls and fixtures & fittings.  The current policy can be extended to include some limited amount of building type cover for your internal flat. It won't cover whats happened, but may help with future events.

That's interesting. I've never come across a contents insurance policy that can be extended to cover ceilings. (Especially as ceilings would be covered by the buildings insurance policy that should already be in place.)  Do you have any links?

And as above, damage caused by rain leaking through a roof due to wear and tear is very unlikely to be covered by any insurance policy.

huckster

I worked in Insurance for several decades. Many Insurance companies provide an optional buildings sum under Contents Insurances to cover internal leasehold flat risks that normally fall under Buildings Insurance perils.

Not well advertised. Flat owners have to ask when speaking to Insurers or Brokers about what risks they need Insurance for.