Buildings insurance re subsidence

[homeowner45]

My mother claimed on her insurance for subsidence. They monitored for a year then redone her outside drains, filled in cracks in a few rooms redone a bit of brickwork outside and redecorated some rooms. (no underpinning done) About 4 yrs later my partner noticed cracks opening up. My mother rang ins company and they wouldn't send anyone out, just told her to get a builder to look at it and let them know. As she is in her 70's she got a builder neighbour/friend to look and he said it looked ok. The ins co sent her a letter saying 'as you haven't contacted us we believe you have no problems and are closing this matter' or words to that affect. She is trying to sell the house now and the survey pulled up a problem and the prospective buyers got a structural engineer out and they said it has subsidence again and should have been underpinned last time! Mother phoned ins co and they say she has to pay £1000 excess again. Surely the ins co are at fault here?

Edited February 26, 2013 by homeowner45

[honeybee13]

Hello and welcome to CAG.

 

I'll move your thread to the insurance forum, where the guys should be able to help you. I'll leave a short term redirect on this forum for you.

 

My best, HB

[homeowner45]

thank you!

[unclebulgaria67]

My mother claimed on her insurance for subsidence. They monitored for a year then redone her outside drains, filled in cracks in a few rooms redone a bit of brickwork outside and redecorated some rooms. (no underpinning done) About 4 yrs later my partner noticed cracks opening up. My mother rang ins company and they wouldn't send anyone out, just told her to get a builder to look at it and let them know. As she is in her 70's she got a builder neighbour/friend to look and he said it looked ok. The ins co sent her a letter saying 'as you haven't contacted us we believe you have no problems and are closing this matter' or words to that affect. She is trying to sell the house now and the survey pulled up a problem and the prospective buyers got a structural engineer out and they said it has subsidence again and should have been underpinned last time! Mother phoned ins co and they say she has to pay £1000 excess again. Surely the ins co are at fault here?

 

The problem is whether this latest damage has anything to do with the original problem. If you have a structural engineers report done or borrow the buyer and this confirms it was related, then contact the Insurers who dealt with the original claim. Ask to speak to a manager or subsidence claim specialist claims handler. If you can fax a copy of something from the structural engineer to the claims handler, then they can arrange to send someone out and start the ball rolling. If it is agreed that this is the original problem coming back to haunt, then there will be no further £1000 excess. The Insurers will then take advice about the works that will be required. Sometimes works don't start straightaway, as there may be a need for monitoring first. This may stop the sale of the house, as the buyers won't want to buy a house, where there are unknowns. e.g extent of damage/works required, affect on the value of the house. If the buyer needs a mortgage, their mortgage company probably won't lend now anyway.

 

The Insurance company will be responsible for inadequate works, if they contracted the works or paid the contractors. If your mother some how took over the claim and sorted out the works herself, then the Ins co. will not be responsible. I doubt that the latter would the case, but just added to make sure this was mentioned.

[dacouc]

Is she still with the Insurer who paid out the original claim?

[homeowner45]

She is still with the insurer that sorted the work last time, they said it would be guaranteed if she kept with them. They are still insisting on the £1000 excess at the moment, hoping we can claim that back if it is proven to be their fault. The ins co are sending someone out in the morning to look at it.