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Arranging contents insurance - unclear on roof material
I'm a first time buyer in the process of buying a flat in a block where building insurance is covered through a common policy looked after by a factor, so I only need to arrange contents insurance. Ideally I'd obviously like to have this in place for when things complete in a week's time.
The challenge I'm having is that the roof is flat, and as I don't have details of what it's made of I can't get through the process of getting a quote from one of the specialist insurers for this sort of thing.
The home report just says "The roof is flat and presumed to be overlaid in a waterproof
membrane or similar" - which is all the information I or my solicitor has. I've emailed the factor through the company's website but they haven't replied yet, and I don't have any specific contacts at the factor as I'm not actually resident in the building yet until the purchase completes. Likewise, as I don't have access to the building yet - I can't just ask my prospective neighbours etc short of going to the building and cold calling via the door intercom then hoping someone answers.
What's the best option here - is there any way to get this information before I move in?
My understanding is that buildings insurance is the key thing to have - and that's already covered. It'll be easier to find out about the roofing material once I'm resident in the building (as I can just knock on a neighbour's door to see what they've done in that regard, and will have a better chance of contacting the factor etc) - so presume that waiting until I've moved in then sorting contents insurance once I can get the necessary information won't be the end of the world?
Comments
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You say it's a factor managing the building, so your in Scotland? I had the same issue and had to chase the factor to provide the details and sorted the insurance after I had moved in.
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On the basis you are talking about factors will assume you are in scotland? How old is the building? Maybe there is information on the councils planning portal?
Unless there is access to the roof, not sure residents are going to know any better than you and having worked in insurance for two decades, I wouldnt automatically trust what your neighbours are saying is right
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Yep Scotland, and 2008.
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It's indeed Scotland. And thanks - suspect that may be the best option!
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In England, as a prospective buyer, you may or may not see the details on the portal… unfortunately for us ours dont list the materials on second plan that was actually built but did on the original plan which they changed 6 months earlier… the original plan had a pitched roof with dormer windows, the revised building got an extra half floor with a metal wave like shaped roof.
Similarly here you would ask your solicitor to require this information from the seller, they could get it from the planning office or ask the freeholder for the property log book, both should ahve the information but both can charge for providing it. As you havent yet bought the property you dont have the right personally. Im aware that leasehold doesnt exist in scotland so not sure if factors have to hold such records or not etc.0 -
I don't know what a property log book is?. The factor is simply a company responsible for up keep of the building. They are responsible for the building insurance and therefore must have the details.
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In England tall buildings with at least 2 residential units in them are required to hold one, it contains details of the buildings construction, design, maintenance, safety information, plans, plant etc. For smaller blocks of flats its a good practice thing rather than a statutory requirement. Its all the sort of information a potential new freeholder would want to have.
Obviously things work differently in Scotland and whilst there are laws around property factors its all about what they have done not the underlying details of the building they've been asked to manage
They would hopefully have them but they almost certainly are buying a Block insurance policy which is a form of Commercial Property insurance and things just work differently in the commercial world than the consumer. I mean for one policy the number of buildings to be insured under the policy were more than the number you could enter into RMS RiskBrowser to be able to model losses anyway (want to say the limit was 10,000 locations but could be very wrong). Depending on the value of the property or the portfolio its likely that a survey would be done by the insurer/broker rather than relying on what the customer says.
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if 2008 then look up the planning permission
Or just tell us what the building is and we'll check for you.
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Salamander Court, in Edinburgh (EH6 7JP). Apologies - new to all this so not sure where I'd look up planning permission!
And the factor should be able to tell me, absolutely - but even though they arrange the common building insurance policy, they claiming they don't have that information and I should just check the home report! Exasperating!
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This is not the roof over my flat, but it does appear to be the same roofing material (the building has some lower sections with a pitched roof between the higher floors of the building). I can try speaking to other residents to see what they have done in this regard, but obviously can only hope what they tell me is accurate
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