Building Insurance (for house with historic, 15 year old, underpinning)

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sean Boyle on October 19, 2017 at 22:16

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that the insurance company with which the house was insured at the time when the subsidence occurred is obliged to offer continuing cover under the existing policy, even to a new owner (which is how I got insurance). But I suspect this may not apply if there has been a break in continuity. 

Permalink Reply by Ms on October 20, 2017 at 8:29

We were underpinned 17 years ago (or rather our house was!) and after a few years moved from the insurers we had at the time and are now with Ecclestiastical.  We went through a broker (NW Brown in Cambridge) and I suspect a specialist broker may be the solution. Trying to get a quote online or on the phone - if you mention subsidence, they basically ring off.  But our premiums are reasonable with Ecclestiastical and we have been with them for some years now.  When we moved away from the original to another insurer however (which may have been a different one again) I did have to provide copies of a lot of the paperwork we had at the time of the underpinning from the insurers, loss adjusters and underpinners which we had as it was our house and I tend to keep paperwork (and I think have it all still). If you would like any more details about Ecclestiastical or our broker, let me know, happy to help.

And I think Sean is quite right in what he says below, but we chose to move for cheaper premiums.

MS

Permalink Reply by elizetruter on October 20, 2017 at 9:34

Thanks!  I will let pass this information on and let you know what happens.

ET

Permalink Reply by Alyson on October 20, 2017 at 10:25

After various false starts I ended up with a broker called JPR Insurance, they are willing to listen to your individual requirements and explain things, efficient with posting out paperwork. Occasionally busy ( I think it's a small independent firm) so may have to call you back. 01379 783930

Permalink Reply by elizetruter on October 26, 2017 at 7:46

Many thanks for your response Alyson.  I will pass your info on.

Permalink Reply by Bob Lindsay-Smith on October 25, 2017 at 22:31

Sorry this is late:-

Just 5 years after the completion of a repair to a front bay and wall cracked due to subsidence we were forced to  ask for quotes from other insurers because our large insurance company, called something like Illegal and Particular, said that they no longer provided cover for converted flats.

Eventually we found a broker called Higos that arranged a non-standard policy that gave us everything we'd previously had, at a fraction of the premium! They pushed for us to pay on expensive credit though, which we managed to avoid.

Permalink Reply by elizetruter on October 26, 2017 at 7:47

Many thanks for your reply.   I will pass the info on.