House Insurance Query.

Supergran_2

I wonder if anyone can help me. My mother died in February and we have kept on paying her mortgage and Insurances etc., until Probate has been granted.

Went to her house yesterday to sort some things out and the kitchen ceiling has a belly in it, on inspection the roof has been leaking.

Will her insurance cover the damage ? or will i have to get it repaired myself.:eek:

Thanks in advance.

thesecretpolicemansball

Hey there

1st thing is i would check your policy of insurance. The policy usually has an occupancy clause meaning that the property must not have been left unoccupied for a specified period of time. In most policys it is 28 days. By unoccupied it means nobody residing at the address. So if someone has not stayed in the house over the last 28 days I think you have a problem.

The ceiling you say is bulging. Presuming it is a single storey extension and made of a slated/tiled roof there is a good chance it would be covered under the storm damage section of the buildings policy. However, a storm must have occured in your area during the time the roof became damaged and subsequently let the water into the house.

But I would check the occupancy terms and the storm aspect before going any further. Also if the property is in probate I think you only get fire damage cover. Check this with the solicitor handling the probate for the estate. I recall an issue with an neighbour sometime ago when her father passed away something to do with not being able to insure something you dont own!

Hope my ramblings help.

gazza975526570

The poster above makes some valid points however i woud say to contact them irrespective of the inoccupancy clause. The insurer may (dependent upon who it is) show some compassion and deal irresepective of this.

chaseside

Supergran:
Sorry to hear of the loss of your mother

Presumably you have contacted the insurance company & mortgage company to advise them of the loss of your mother & inform them that the property is empty.
When my MIL died the insurance company fully covered the house for the 1st 12 months while we sold it,all they wanted to know was that we were checking on the house regularly & that there were adequate locks etc.
Thankfully we didnt have any damage, but we found the IC very helpful.

takoo

Hi Supergran

Sorry to hear of your loss. As stated read the policy. If the insurance company was told of your mother's death and still accepted the premiums you may be OK.

In any event you should not be liable yourself since the executor (you as..?) should be able to
1 arrange repairs
2 claim on insurance (if possible), or
3 pay for such items out of the estate.

You (as you) will be able to get the mortgage and other costs from estate from the executor of the estate.

Check with the CAB or a solicitor if the insurance company denies liability. Perhaps you could uUse their complaints procedure if you feel they do not have a case. If that fails try the Ombudsman for financial matters.

Good luck

Takoo