Burglary Claim Turned Down for Window locks?

jcw78

Some advice please.
My brother returned home to find he had been burgled. The thieves had forced open a Victorian sash window which had standard screw down bolts fitted. The police came round within half hour, took a statement and provided crime ref.
By brother contacted his insurance company Home Protect (backed by Lloyds) to make claim. A loss adjuster came to visit my bother at his home. Within half hour of leaving he telephoned informing that my brothers claim is void as British Standard locks were not fitted to the sash window. This has since been confirmed in writing.
My brother disputes that he stated British Standard locks were fitted to all windows and doors when applying for the insurance through Moneysupermarket.
The policy schedule summary doesn’t provide any details on the property type, number of beds, type of locks etc etc. The only info provided is a list of items. I have just renewed my home insurance, the schedule clearly lists the information that I originally provided such as the type of house, is it regularly occupied, are smoke detectors fitted etc etc.
Home Protect have said that they do not keep copies of the applications. Surely the onus is on Home Protect to prove that the application did have information re British Standard locks?
Even if my brother mistakenly gave incorrect info should Home Protect not just reduce the claim amount as has still be paying monthly premiums for home contents cover. Can Home Protect strike out the claim on this technicality?

mattymoo

First off there is no such thing as a British Standard window lock - there is a standard for doors but not for windows.
Usually insurers will insist on key operated window locks being fitted.

The policy schedule should show if a security condition has been applied to the policy. Will usually be along the lines of Brit Stand locks on the doors and key operated window locks on ground floor / accessible windows.

This condition may have been in place at policy inception or added since then and bought to his attention in a renewal notice. If so, then the declinature is legitimate because the lack of window locks was relevant to the claim circumstances.

If, on the off chance there is some confusion and the insurer has declined because BS locks were not fitted to the doors, then you can appeal and should win. The lack of BS locks on the door was of no relevence since the thieves came in via the window you see.


EDIT - have just had a look through their Keyfacts and policy wordings at this site - http://www.webmoney.co.uk/home-insurance/policy-documents.asp. I'm assuming I've got the right firm.
Have been unable to find a blanket security condition, in other words, one that they apply to every policyholder, in either document. So, if they are relying on a security condition as the get out, it has to be in his policy schedule.

If it was me, I would love to challenge them to come up with a Britsh Standard window lock, but then I am a security surveyor for an insurance company

There is a standard BS:7950 for "new" casement windows, introduced in 1997. It is of no use whatsoever for sash windows though.

sashman

Mattymoo

I am getting someone to check the statement about no BS for window locks, I agree there is not a british standard lock but certainly a standard for locks.

However you may like to check the sbd web site for sash windows. My technical director helped write the amendments so that sash windows could be tesed in 2006, thats when we achieved BS7950 and became the first sash window to obtain secured by design security from the police force.

pm me if you want details or revisit www.sbd.org and search for sash window, we are listed

sashman