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Home Insurance FAQ’s

Every now and then we get asked questions that we feel should be answered but aren’t covered in our home guides. Since closing our forums we have moved the best questions into this section.

Q) Can I use my Homeowners Insurance on a theft from my car while it was parked at home?

A) There is cover for personal effects under the motor insurers for a small amount, however, depending on what has been stolen from the vehicle, will be dependent on the cover provided by the home insurer. For example the theft of a laptop from an unattended vehicle is not normally covered.

Q) Do you have to have a survey of your home to get homeowners insurance?

A) No having a survey is not a requirement, however, the survey may be helpful to establish the rebuilding costs of the property for insurance purposes.

Q) How often should I inspect the home for insurance purposes?

A) All homes should be checked at least once every 14 days if the property is unoccupied and a detailed itenery of visits maintained. There may be other cover restrictions that could apply and as such you should always refer to your policy.

Q) Are Home Foundation Repairs Covered by Home Insurance?

A) The repairs to foundations are included as a result of the insurable perils under the policy, such as Landslip/heave and subsidence. But not as a result of faulty workmanship.

January 8, 2015

Let Guides

Fire safety and landlord safety in HMO properties

fire protection advice for HMO properties

Research has shown that the risk of death from fire in some types of HMO is greater than in single occupancy properties, highlighting the need for adequate fire precautions. ENTEC Limited gathered statistics which show that in houses that are converted into bedsits the risk of death from fire is 1 in 50,000 and in bedsit houses that have three or more storeys this risk jumps to 1 in 18,600. These risks are six times and sixteen times higher than the risk of death from fire in a single occupancy dwelling respectively.

Under the Housing Act 2004 there are no set standards for fire safety as each residence may be unique and pose different risks. Fire precautions are used to stop smoke and fire from spreading in order that the residents have a better chance of escape. These precautions include a protected route (the means of escape in the event of fire), fire separation, fire doors, automatic fire detection, emergency lighting, firefighting equipment and fire safety compliant furniture. Each of these precautions must be considered for HMO’s but note that the precautions used can be dependent on the risk of the property.

Fire Safety and Landlord Safety precautions

PROTECTED ROUTE: This covers the exit from the building in the event of a fire and should always be kept clear to allow easy access to safety. All final exit doors should be able to be opened without a key. The doors, walls, floors and ceilings of the escape route should be made to resist the passage of smoke and fire for half an hour, and any electric or gas meter boxes should be encased in material to resist fire for at least half an hour as well. Any cracks, holes or damage to the plaster in the walls or ceilings of the escape route need to be repaired using material to give the required standard. Certain items should not be allowed in the stairways, such as portable heaters, heaters with naked flames or with bars, fixed heaters with gas canisters, upholstered furniture, storage furniture, coat racks and cooking appliances.

FIRE SEPARATION: All lettings in HMO’s should be separated from one another as well as from the protected route using half hour fire resistance for the walls, floors and ceilings. In HMO’s that have commercial premises attached a one hour fire resistant separation is needed.

FIRE DOORS: Fire doors are needed in high risk HMO’s to prevent the spread of fire onto the protected route. Each letting room and any other rooms opening onto the protected route should be fitted with a fire door which needs to meet certain standards. Fire doors should be half hour fire resistant and must be able to be opened from the inside without the use of a key. They must also be self-closing and fitted with a minimum of three hinges that are made to withstand temperatures of more than 800 degrees centigrade. The gap between the door and the door frame may not be more than 3mm and 8mm underneath the door. Fire doors must never be wedged open.

AUTOMATIC FIRE DETECTION: In large HMO’s (three storeys or more) a full fire alarm system should be installed with a central control panel. Heat detectors should be provided in all kitchens and rooms with cooking facilities, whilst smoke detectors should be provided in all hallways, landings, living rooms and bedrooms. In smaller HMO’s

(two storeys) smoke detectors/alarms should be installed in the hallways, landing and bedrooms and a heat detector should be installed in the kitchen. All heat and smoke detectors should be wired to the mains with a battery back-up. Fire detection alarms must be maintained and checked regularly.

EMERGENCY LIGHTING: Emergency lighting with a battery back-up if the mains electric supply fails is required in HMO’s of three or more storeys. This provides adequate lighting for the occupants to be able to see the escape route from the building. It must be maintained and kept in good working order, and inspected regularly.

FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT: Fire extinguishers are needed so that small fires may be put out and also so that the escape route may be kept passable in the event of a larger fire. Instructions to tenants must be given on the correct way to use the fire extinguishers. Fire extinguishers should be placed on brackets that are about 1 metre from the floor and must comply with BS EN3 and be kept in good working order and serviced once a year. A multi-purpose extinguisher should be placed on each floor in the communal hallway. In a kitchen a carbon dioxide or a dry powder extinguisher should be provided. A fire blanket conforming to standard BS 6575 should be provided in a shared kitchen.

FIRE SAFETY COMPLIANT FURNITURE/FURNISHINGS: Any furniture or furnishings provided must comply with the Furniture and Furnishings Amendment Regulations 1993. This includes upholstered furniture, mattresses, cushions, pillows, seat pads and any upholstered garden furniture.

If you a require a HMO insurance quotation, call Highhouse insurance today and we will be pleased to assist.

November 30, 2014

Caravan

Securities for Touring Caravans

the importance of securities for touring caravans

Highhouse Insurance Guide to Caravan Security

Every year many caravans are stolen in the United Kingdom, usually from outside of the owner’s property or from a commercial storage site. Caravans that are 2-3 years old are statistically the most likely to be stolen. Even in the event that the caravan is recovered by the police, are often never returned to the owner as all marks of identification are removed by the thieves. Taking the correct securities for touring caravans is important and precautions against theft can be taken with many different security devices available, varying widely in price.

Hitchlocks

These are a deterrent to thieves acting where they find the opportunity to do so, and they can provide protection against roadside theft, on site theft and also theft at service station areas. They do not, however, provide adequate protection against theft at home or in storage. When looking for a hitchlock ensure that the model chosen covers the whole hitchhead and the securing bolts to provide maximum security. Also look for the Sold Secure standards to ensure that you get the best quality.

Wheelclamps

Though not very suitable for use whilst making a short stop, a wide variety of wheelclamps are available. Ensure that you look for a wheelclamp that cannot easily be removed by a drill or hacksaw and bear in mind that thieves may let the caravan’s tyres down whilst attempting to remove this type of security device.

Wheel Locks

A wheel lock works in a similar way to a wheelclamp but it also fixes through the wheel and into the brake assembly. A wheel lock can be difficult to attach and unsuitable for a short stop, but when fitted wheel locks are highly effective. Different types of wheel lock are manufactured for different types of caravan.

Alarms

Many types are available and costs vary considerably. If you are looking for a Sold Secure alarm, i.e. a quality tested one, then it is advisable to check their website as very few manufacturers of alarms have a Sold Secure status.

Tracking Systems

These help in the location of stolen caravans by tracking their whereabouts using either satellite technology or radio signals. There is a large selection of tracking systems available on the market, though it is important to recognise that tracking systems designed for motor vehicles may not be suitable for use on caravans.

Tracking systems can be costly to fit and may require an annual payment if a monitored system is purchased. It is also worth taking into account that not all insurers will give a discount on insurance premium if a tracking system is installed.

CRiS

This is the Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme. All touring caravans manufactured by the NCC since 1992 have had a 17 digit vehicle identification number marked on their chassis, as well as having been recorded on the CRiS database. Since August 1997 they have all also been electronically tagged and from 1999 the scheme was improved to extend registration to caravans manufactured before 1992 as well as privately imported ones.

CRiS also offer Silent Tracer which is a security marking system that makes caravans much harder to steal. It also deters fraud through cloning by providing a unique identity for each caravan. Details of the current costs of CRiS sevices and memberships may be found on their website.

Whilst CRiS does not prevent theft, it does help in the recovery of stolen caravans and it may have an effect as a deterrent as caravans in this scheme are much harder for thieves to sell on to others.

Hitch Posts

These are a useful security measure whilst your caravan is at home. A post is concreted into the ground, on to which the caravan ballhead can be fixed into place using a hitchlock.

Security Tagging

Contents theft from caravans has increased in recent years and thieves regularly steal expensive electrical goods, such as laptops, tablets, digital cameras and mobile phones. Security tagging these items will not prevent theft from happening but it will aid the police in the identification of stolen goods if they are found.

Many methods of security tagging exist, varying in cost. A cheap method of tagging could be by using UV markers to mark your expensive belongings with your postcode. A more expensive alternative would be using microdots, which involves a registration fee and monthly payment to ensure that your belongings remain registered on a database.

Roof Marking and Photographs

Marking the roof of the caravan with at least the last six characters of its CRiS number with stick on letters is a good way to ensure that the caravan will be easily identified by roadside cameras in the event of a theft. It is also recommended that the caravan is photographed both inside and out so that you have photographs to provide to the police should you become a victim of caravan theft.

November 5, 2014

Caravan

Static Caravan Insurance

We now offer Static Caravan Insurance

At Highhouse Insurance we have a variety of options available for owners who require static caravan insurance. We can cover the structure of the home itself as well as any contents. We are equally pleased to receive enquires from owners who use the property as a main residence or occupy for holiday home use, including caravans that are let on a short term rental basis.

Call us for your quotation, we cover most static caravan parks in the United Kingdom and insurance can normally be arranged the same day with premiums being paid either by credit/debit card or by monthly direct debit.

Insurance for static caravans is based upon the fact that they will remain in one place. The insurance premium will be affected by the location of the site the static home or static caravan is on, as well as the construction of it. Most static caravans are built to BS3632 standards, although some have been manufactured to the BS EN 1647 standard instead.

Static homes are usually located on privately managed holiday parks. Each holiday park must hold a local authority licence. This licence will only be awarded if the park has planning permission and a copy of it must be displayed on the park notice board. The licence will indicate whether the park is for holiday or for residential use and will also state whether the planning permission is indefinite or if there is an expiry date. The licence shows the maximum number of static homes that are permitted on site as well as fire precautions and health and safety instructions. Parks that are not privately owned, but instead are owned by the local authority, will not have a licence but must still adhere to these standards.

Most residents on these sites will own their static caravans themselves and will pay the site owner a fee for the pitch. This fee covers the maintenance of common areas as well as any services provided on site.

Many sites will not allow the static home/caravan owners to reside on site all year round. If, however, the site does allow all year round occupancy and the static home/caravan is lived in permanently, then the owner of the home/caravan is protected under the 1983 Mobile Homes Act as amended by the Housing Act 2004. This Act does not cover homes used only for holidays or occupied for only part of the year.

As there are many different styles of caravan our insurers have an insurance policy specifically designed to take this into account, and they comprehensively cover a wide variety of perils. Cover can be provided on most makes of caravan including ABI, Arronsbrook, Atlas, BK, Bluebird, Brentmere, Carnaby, Classique, Cosalt, Delta, Galaxy, IRM, Kingston, Lisset, Normandy, Omar, Pemberton, Rapid Home, Stella, Swift, Tingdene, Tudor, Victory, Wessex, Westbrook and Willerby.

Don’t worry if your home is not on this list, in all probability we will still be able to issue cover. If you would like a quotation for static caravan insurance then please feel free to call us on 01243 606552.

November 3, 2014

Home Guides

Over Insurance and Under Insurance

Underinsurance can lead to not covering a full rebuild

When providing quotes for property insurance here at Highhouse we often come across enquiries where people are unsure about true values for either their buildings sum insured (BSI) or contents sum insured (CSI) and have never really taken stock of what assets they own and how much it would cost to replace everything in a worse case scenario such as a fire or flood, where everything could be damaged or lost.

When you guess or base your insurable values on inaccurate or incorrect figures, this can lead to either over insurance or underinsurance. The stresses and strain of having to deal with a worse case scenario and picking up the pieces for your family could be further worsened if you find yourself thousands of pounds out of pocket and unable to replace half of what is needed to start up again.

Underinsurance

Overinsurance

Contents Inventory Checklist

Download this article in pdf

overinsurance-underinsurance-pdf-download

Under Insurance

Underinsurance is where the sums insured are inadequate and the insured will usually only become aware of this when it is too late and a claim has been made only to find out that the final settlement is far less than the accurate cost of replacing lost or damaged property. The sums insured for buildings should be the full value of a complete rebuild and remember that it is the maximum figure that the insurer will pay out.

An example of underinsurance for buildings is when a property rebuild value has increased because either renovation work and/ or extensions have been built or in the case of listed buildings, the cost of listed building materials have increased faster than the protective index-linked rate.

An example of underinsurance for contents is when the insured sets a CSI based on a blanket figure to take into account the cost of replacing big items they would like to have cover for such as fridge/ freezers, cookers, TV’s, computers, beds and basic furniture including carpets. This does however fail to take into account a true reflection of what may have to be replaced and its the smaller items such as smaller electrical appliances, DVD’s, CD’s, crockery, cutlery, pots and pans, curtains, blinds, mirrors, bed linen, clothing, ornaments and so on. By listing everything in a room and adding up their values, its amazing what the actual cost of replacing like for like really could be.

Tips on preventing becoming underinsured

For Buildings – The sum insured should be the cost of a full rebuild which in the worse case scenario of a fire may include the cost of demolition, debris removal, architects fees, surveyors and legal fees and of course the rebuild itself.
For Contents – go thoroughly through each room and note as many items as possible, creating a checklist with a full replacement value for each item, think of the worse case scenario and you had to replace everything and therefore you want to have the correct sums to be able to do this. Remember to include contents from the garden and outbuildings and create a list that can be reused or changed to make the process of updating easier in the future. We have put together a sample checklist later in this guide to help get you started.
Heirloom items, antiques, jewellery, fine arts and other expensive items should be correctly evaluated by properly qualified valuers to their full market or current market value depending on the piece and be aware of any market trends that may affect their value.
Where an insurance company will not dispute you owning a washing machine or television in the spare bedroom, they may however require evidence of ownership or proof of existence for more expensive ‘specified items’ like jewellery or antiques. Keeping photographic evidence and as much proof of ownership as you can in a safe place will help, should a claim arise in the future. Ideally a backup of proof should be safely stored away from the property in case of a fire where all evidence could be lost as well.
Don’t take out insurance and then forget about any endorsements or exclusions that have been applied to the policy. For example some insurers apply a safe clause endorsement for specified items such as rings or necklaces and will not cover theft of jewellery from the home unless it is kept locked in a safe whilst not being worn.

Over Insurance

Overinsurance means the insured is paying too much for the cover required and would save money by reevaluating the correct values. It is also possible you may have an item insured more than once under different types of policy such as home insurance and insurance cover through banks and credit cards.

An example of where a property might be over insured is where they have based their BSI on the market value of the property and not the rebuild cost which is usually less (except in circumstances such as some listed properties) as it excludes the value of the land the property is built on.

An Example of where contents might be overinsured is an evaluation of items that had a higher value a few years but have since gone down in price. Remember its not the price you paid for something that you are insuring but rather the cost of replacing it like for like and with advances in technology making appliances and devices cheaper, their cost to replace is also reducing.

Tips on preventing being overinsured

Don’t guess or purposely evaluate an item to be worth more than it is especially to the extent where you think you would make a profit by doing this, insurance companies and in particular loss adjusters are very good at determining an accurate value of items and it is in your interest to do the same.
Don’t do an evaluation of how much buildings and contents cost in the first year of insurance and then never do it again. It may be unrealistic to expect people to evaluate everything every year but remember that what you own collectively and insure in year 1 isn’t going to be the same as in year 10. For high value listed items on an insurance policy, you should keep the insurance company notified when you sell them, if they are damaged (but you don’t claim) or if their value has dropped significantly.
Check that your possessions aren’t insured over several different policies. Banks these days often offer a premium service for monthly fee which may include phone and gadget insurance as well. Ideally it is not worth claiming for a phone or small electrical items as a singular claim on your home insurance because losing a no claims bonus and an increase in premium can out way the benefits of the claim in the long term. That said it is worth noting when items are insured and with whom because you may be paying for a separate phone insurance policy when you already have insurance with your bank.
If you live in a flat and contribute towards a management company then make sure you don’t have duplicate cover with a single flat policy you have taken out and a block of flats policy taken out by the management company.

Contents Inventory Checklist

To aid in assessing your contents on a room by room basis we have provided a contents inventory checklist to help you get started:

Lounge	Estimate
Total	£
Carpets, rugs & curtains	£
Three piece suite & chairs	£
All furniture	£
Pictures, mirrors, clocks & ornaments	£
Tv, stereo & electricals	£
Media like DVD’s, Cd’s	£
Other Items:
	£
	£

Dining Room	Estimate
Total	£
Carpets, rugs & curtains	£
Table and chairs	£
All other furniture	£
Pictures, mirrors, clocks & ornaments	£
Tv, stereo & electricals	£
Media like DVD’s, Cd’s	£
China, glass, crockery and cutlery	£
Other Items:
	£

Kitchen	Estimate
Total	£
Curtains, blinds, rugs	£
Cooker, microwave	£
Washing machine, dishwasher, tumble dryer	£
Pictures, clocks & ornaments	£
Electrical appliances	£
Pots, pans and other Utensils	£
Knives, forks and crockery	£
Refrigerator and freezers	£
Refrigerator and freezer contents	£
All Food and drink	£
Tv’s & other electrical equipment	£
Other Items:
	£
	£

Study	Estimate
Total	£
Carpets, rugs & curtains	£
Desk, chair and furniture	£
Computer and other hardware	£
Books	£
Tv, stereo & electricals	£
Pictures, mirrors, clocks & ornaments	£
Other Items:
	£
	£

Bedrooms	Bedroom 1	Bedroom 2	Bedroom 3	Bedroom 4
Total	£	£	£	£
Carpets, rugs & curtains	£	£	£	£
Beds and bed linen	£	£	£	£
Bedroom furniture	£	£	£	£
Electrical items	£	£	£	£
Tv, stereo & other electricals	£	£	£	£
Pictures, Mirrors, Clocks & Ornaments	£	£	£	£
Clothing, shoes, toys, personal items	£	£	£	£
Other Items:	£	£	£	£
	£	£	£	£
	£	£	£	£

Bathrooms	Bathroom 1	Bathroom 2	Bathroom 3	Bathroom 4
Total	£	£	£	£
Floor coverings, rugs and blinds	£	£	£	£
Furniture	£	£	£	£
Pictures, mirrors, clocks & ornaments	£	£	£	£
Other Items:	£	£	£	£
	£	£	£	£
	£	£	£	£

Hall, stairs, landing and conservatory	Estimate
Total	£
Carpets, rugs & curtains	£
Three piece suite & chairs	£
All Furniture	£
Pictures, mirrors, clocks & ornaments	£
Phone and other electrical items	£
Household items	£
Other Items:
	£
	£

Garage, outbuildings, loft, cellar and garden	Estimate
Total	£
Lawnmowers, strimmers etc	£
Other garden tools	£
DIY tools, drills, saws and sanders	£
Garden furniture, statues, bbq	£
Other Items:
	£
	£

Specified items and valuables	Estimate
Total	£
Jewellery	£
Watches	£
Gold, silver, gold and silver plated	£
furs	£
Pictures	£
Pedal Cycles	£
Other Items:
	£
	£

Area of property	Estimate
Total	£
Lounge	£
Dining	£
Kitchen	£
Study	£
Bedrooms	£
Bathrooms	£
Hall, stairs and conservatory
Garage, outbuildings, loft and garden	£

August 19, 2014

Home Guides

Flat Roof Home Insurance

Picture of a flat roof either being laid or repaired

Flat roofs and getting insurance

Flat Roof Home Insurance

Of all the features of a building that insurers deem to be of non-standard construction, by far the most ubiquitous is the flat roof, commonly seen on home building extensions the length and breadth of the country. Flat roofs form typically up to 25% of a roof area although some can be a lot higher, they are normally horizontal with a low pitch to help with drainage, a roof that is entirely flat may have a problem with water pooling which can lead to damage.
Flat Roofs have been in existence for hundreds of years all over the world including our own but it wasn’t until the 1950s with the introduction of the mineral felt covering that their usage became more prevalent.

Types of Flat Roof

Flats roofs are traditionally covered with either: Felt, Asphalt, Concrete, Fibreglass or Metal. In recent years, mainly in an attempt to improve their lifespan, materials which employ the use of plastics and rubber have been introduced. It is now also possible to buy various chemical treatments to help ensure water tightness.

Why is flat roof home insurance harder to obtain?

In simple terms, they have a tendency to leak, especially ones that have not being either correctly laid or maintained.

The majority of flat roofs in the United Kingdom are made of felt laid down on timber battens. This is a simple method of roofing, initially decking is laid down on the battens with the addition of a top layer of felt. If your roofing contractor knows his stuff, then three layers of felt should be added. The felt employed is pre-made and laid in strips, this type of covering is often confused with asphalt, which is laid on hot “hot roofing” and then covered with stones or chippings as an extra layer of protection. Flat felt roof covering will have a maximum life of between 10-15 years, possibly longer if it is coated with modern sealants.

A good deal of flat roofs are older than this and also unmaintained, building insurance companies know that these often have a propensity to leak causing damage to both buildings and contents. As well as problems with water ingress, a good deal of damage is caused by wind, getting in under the felt and causing it to lift. Cracking can be caused by exposure to the sun especially on roofs that face south although this damage can be minimised by a good covering of shingle.

For these reasons when buying building insurance, you will probably encounter a question asking;

How much percentage of your roof is flat
How old is the roof?
When was the last time it was maintained?

At Highhouse insurance we are happy to offer insurance for buildings with flat roofs of varying sizes and we simply apply the following to our policy;

Flat and Felt Roof Clause

In respect of Section 1 – Buildings, (insured event 3) ‘Storm, flood or weight of snow’ – under ‘what is not covered’:

• the first £250 of every claim for loss or damage to flat & felt roofed areas of the buildings.
• flat and felt roofs which have not been recovered within the last 12 years.
• loss or damage arising as a result of water leaking through your flat & felt roof, unless the loss or damage is caused by an insured event

This is our normal clause, but clauses dealing with flat roofs can vary from insurer to insurer, some will require you to carry out regular maintenance checks and to have such checks recorded and any required remedial work carried out. Wherever you obtain your building insurance, always make sure you fully understand any terms or conditions, especially those relating to maintenance and upkeep. Regardless of insurance requirements, we recommend that you should have any flat roof area of your property checked by a builder or roofer at least every two years to ensure that they remain watertight. Any damage should be repaired and a builder will also make sure that the roof is still draining properly. Depending on your own ability, there are certain maintenance tasks you can carry out yourself. If the roof is quite low in height, say over a ground floor extension, once a year you can check that all guttering is free of leaves and detritus.

Obtaining Insurance

When proposing for building insurance, it’s important to have an accurate knowledge of the size of your flat roof, don’t guess at it, you will probably find a description within any survey documents that have been prepared for your property. Insurers treat flat roofs differently depending on their size and sometimes an alteration of a few percent can make the difference between a risk being acceptable or not. At Highhouse insurance we have extensive experience of dealing with insurance for flat roofs of all descriptions, we issue our own insurance polices “in house” noting lenders interests if required and we can have you on cover, with the documents over to you, lender or solicitor, in most cases on the same day.

If you require home insurance or advice for properties with flat roofs then give Highouse Insurance Services a call or simply fill in our quick contact form and we will call back- We look forward to receiving your enquiry.

Get A Free Property Quote

April 30, 2014

Listed Insurance Guides

Non Standard Construction Types and Materials

A tudor house built in non standard contruction

Non Standard Construction

What does non standard construction mean?

When Insurers refer to standard construction in respect of home buildings, they usually mean property that is built of brick, stone or concrete and roofed with slate, tiles, metal or concrete. Generally speaking to answer the question of what does non standard construction mean?, from an insurance perspective, any building that does not meet the criteria above is deemed to be of non-standard construction and insurers will either; decline cover, want a premium load or impose special terms.

It’s vital that this question is answered correctly on a proposal form as failure to do so could reduce or invalidate a claim. With the vast majority of buildings, it’s fairly straight forward to ascertain how a property is constructed, however when dealing with older style properties such as listed buildings, the task becomes harder and often a professional survey report is required which should list the construction materials that have been employed.

Another feature of listed property, especially ones that have stood for a number of centuries, is that over time they become modified. Prior to statutory controls being introduced to protect listed property, it is not unusual to find a home where the original portion is built of entirely different materials from later additions.
One of the most common forms of non-standard construction type is the property that has a flat roof. In many cases however, if the percentage of flat roof is low, the risk is still considered to be standard and normal terms will be offered. The vast majority of flat roofs are constructed of felt on timber. Felt is layered bitumen impregnated material and is often confused with asphalt. Felt comes is rolls and is laid on a roof a strip at a time, whereas asphalt is poured on a prepared surface and then typically covered with gravel before it cools.

Non standard construction types and materials

You may see any of the following materials used in homes constructed in the United Kingdom especially older style properties

Wattle & Daub– This is a form of wall construction consisting of interwoven twigs plastered with a mixture of clay, lime, water, and sometimes dung and chopped straw. This is a fairly common material used in old listed buildings and builders were known to mix in any material that was “local” to the construction site.
Lath & Plaster- This is also much used in Listed Buildings and consists of thin narrow strips of wood nailed to rafters, joists, or studding as groundwork for slates, tiles, or plaster.
Rendering– Not usually considered being non- standard on its own as it is a coat of plaster or cement applied to a masonry surface. However, the material below the rendering should always be checked.
Stucco- A durable finish for exterior walls, usually composed of cement, sand, and lime, and applied while wet. Or in can also be a plaster or cement finish for interior walls
Asbestos- A heat-resistant fibrous silicate mineral that can be woven into fabrics, used in fire-resistant and insulating materials. Uncommon nowadays because of the health risks associated with the product.
Strammit- A brand make of paneling that has been in use for over 50 years, Strammit panels have a high strength to weight ratio and provide good thermal and acoustic insulation and outstanding resistance to fire.
Weather Board– Weatherboarding is the cladding or ‘siding’ of a house consisting of long thin timber boards that overlap one another, either vertically or horizontally on the outside of the wall. They are usually of rectangular section with parallel sides.
Mundic Block– Houses built containing Mundic block are often difficult to mortgage, even if only a portion of the property contains Mundic. Usually mine or mineral waste contained in concrete is used which can cause it to decay as it can easily absorb water.
Cob- Cob is a building material consisting of clay, sand, straw, water, and earth and is often seeing in older style properties such as Thatched Buildings
Pan-Tile- A roofing tile with an S-shaped profile, laid so that the down curve of one tile overlaps the up curve of the next one. Not considered to be non-standard but very popular for covering listed buildings.
Lime Plaster– Lime plaster is type of plaster composed of hydrated lime, sand and water.
Plasterboard- A rigid board made of layers of fibreboard or paper bonded to a gypsum plaster core

We hope you have found this article useful and if you have a property that has any of the above material used in its construction, then Highhouse Insurance will endeavour to provide you with a buildings insurance quotation. We have facilities to quote for buildings of all ages and descriptions and welcome your enquiry.

Highhouse specialise in non standard construction insurance. Our flexible policies are underwritten using only the highest rated insurers and unlike many other listed building and thatch insurance policies we cover a wide range of different listed building categories in the UK including Grade 1, Grade 2* and Grade 2 as well as Grade A, Grade B and Grade C in Scotland. If you require listed building insurance today or at some point in the future then call us direct on 01243 606552 or fill in our quick property quote form.

April 17, 2014

Flat

Tenement Insurance

Tenement Insurance for Flats

Why Choose Highhouse Tenement Insurance

Instant no claims discount.
Individual or Block policies for tenement buildings.
Speak directly to UK staff – No automated phone service.

Tenement Buildings Flat Insurance

Depending on what the Title Deeds may say you need to take out insurance to protect your interest in the property that you own to protect the Mortgage Companies or your own investment. You will legally be required to insure your flat for the ‘Reinstatement Value’ this is to say the cost of rebuilding your property from scratch.

Generally the deed will require that you cover the structure that you are responsible for against standard perils such as Fire, Storm, Flood, Subsidence, Leaking water etc. You have a right to ask all the flat owners for proof of their insurance in writing and if evidence of insurance is not produced within 14 days you are able to take the flat owner to court.

So this is where potential problems can occur :

What happens if not all of the flat owners have insurance?
How will all the Insurance Companies deal with a large claim and communicate with each other?
What happens if a flat owners policy becomes void by the insurers due to a none disclose of a fact?
Who will be responsible for the cost of the reinstatement of the common parts?

These are all problems that could exist as a result of flat owners having, or not having! Separate insurance policies as if they are not properly insured there will not be adequate cover.

Whilst Block of Flats Insurance was not made a legal requirement following the Scottish Law Commissions report in March 2003, it is highly recommended that this Common Insurance is adopted in Tenement buildings for the ‘Reinstatement’ and not the ‘Market’ Value of the property (as with Category A, Category B and Category C properties it is likely that the cost to rebuild the property in the event of damage would be greater that the Market Value of the property. When purchasing a property the Mortgage Valuation will normally state the required rebuilding cost.

The Act bought with it other requirements and obligations on over 1.5m flat owners in Scotland:

A duty to effect and keep in force an Insurance policy for named risks for the reinstatement value of the property that the owner is responsible for
It suggested that a Common or Block policy would satisfy this
If, for the reason of Location or Extreme cost of insuring a particular peril the act will allow for the owner not to insure for that reason or peril.
The owner has a duty to provide evidence of insurance to other flat owners and ensure that payment for the policy should be no later than 14 days from the bill for the insurance being rendered

The requirement of a ‘Common Policy’ or Block of Flats Policy may be required under the title deeds and this may state how the cost of this policy should be split between the flat owners and should it not then the cost should be spread evenly in proportion to the size of the flat owned. You can see from this that this is a better way to insure a property.

Highhouse Insurance are able to offer both Individual or Block policies for tenement buildings and also for Category A, Category B and Category C Listed properties in Scotland.

We believe here at Highhouse you should only pay for the level of cover needed, our bespoke tenement insurance policies are designed to create an insurance policy using the highest level of cover at the most competitive rates.

April 13, 2014

Thatch Insurance Guides

Thatching material used for thatched roof buildings

Types of Covering for Thatch Buildings

Thatched roof materials

When it comes to the type of materials used in thatched roofs there are a number of different options available. Traditionally, materials were selected for use because they were easily available locally. Some types of covering like woodchip which was found in Sussex and was very popular have now fallen in to disuse. Nowadays with excellent transport links, the location of the reeds is not such an important factor.

Combed Wheat Read

Combed Wheat Reed thatch is also known as Devon Reed and it is the most widely used type of thatching material in Devon and the West Country.

Reeds are harvested whilst young, making them more hardwearing, then bundled, stacked and combed to remove the ears. This combed reed is then laid on to the roof in thick bundles with the sharp ends, called “butts”, protruding to aid carrying water away from the roof.

The appearance of Combed Wheat Reed thatching is rounded as the wheat is soft and pliable. Hazel branches called “spars” are used to hold the thatch in to place on the ridge of the roof. These “spars” are often patterned to add decoration.

Combed Wheat Reed thatch has a lifespan of approximately 25 years, but may require some repair and maintenance after 15-20 years.

It is interesting to note that not all wheat reed is actually wheat. It may also be Triticale which is a wheat-rye cross, or it may be rye straw.

Long Straw Thatch

Long Straw thatch usually uses wheat straw, although sometimes it may be rye straw or sedge can be found to be mixed in. The straw is specially cultivated so that the stems are taller than 70cm. and it is then threshed to remove the grain from the ear. It remains uncombed. After threshing the straw is shaken on to a layered bed and is made wet before shaking out occurs. “Yealms” which are compacted layers are made ready to go on to the roof. As the heads and butts lie in different directions this type of thatch has a much coarser appearance. Hazel spars are used to control the thatch and it may even be covered by netting after it has been finished by raking, hand plucking or clipping.

Long Straw thatch has a lifespan of up to 25 years, perhaps needing some repair after 15-20 years.

Water Read

Water Reed, or Norfolk Reed, is now commonly used to thatch new roofs as well as to replace existing ones. Traditionally, this type of thatching was used in marshy wetland areas such as the Norfolk Broads and the Fens where the reed grows naturally. Nowadays the reeds may be imported from all over Europe as well as from China and Africa.

Water Reed plants grow to heights of up to 2.5 meters and are harvested low down on the stem. The bunches of reeds are very tight and they, therefore, require an even surface on which to be applied. This is usually the timber roof structure, but can sometimes also be applied to an existing layer of thatch. The bunches are applied horizontally to the roof and are then pushed up in to position so that the butt ends face downwards. They are fixed by means of “sways” which are horizontal rods. As Water Reed is not pliable the roof ridge is done with sedge or straw.

The appearance of this type of roof is even and angular as the hard stems give a straight edge. The roof is not as thick as straw ones, but as the reeds are longer and harder than wheat this type of thatch may last up to 50 years.

Heather

Heather has long been used where it grows locally, such as in Scotland and the moorland areas of England. Long stemmed heather is the most suitable for thatching and the entire plant is used. It is tied up in to bundles and fixed to the roof with the roots pointing downwards. It may further be secured by netting and, in Scotland, it is common to see ropes with weighted stones attached. Modern ways of cutting the heather rather than uprooting it can still provide thatching.

Marram Grass

Marram grass has been used as a thatching material in the Hebrides and also in exposed coastal areas. It is ideal in these places as marram grass can withstand the force of high winds which contain sand. However, cutting down marram grass can be damaging to the sand dunes that provide a natural defence against coastal erosion.

Highhouse can provide thatch insurance quotes for all types of Thatch Roof covering, we issue our own polices “in house” noting lenders interests if required and we can have you on cover, with the documents over to you, your solicitor or lender, in most cases on the same day. For more information see our thatch insurance.

Types of covering used for Thatched Buildings PDF Guide

April 3, 2014

Home Guides

Getting flood insurance in flood risk areas

In future insuring a home in flood risk area could be more difficult

Home Insurance in flood risk area can be more difficult to insure.

Flood Insurance

Adequate flood insurance cover for a property can help reduce the financial consequences, stress and trauma that flooding can bring. Insurance industry data indicates that households at high flood risk pay around £340 on average for buildings and contents insurance (ABI 2011). This compares with between £20 – £30,000 for the average cost of damages after flooding.

There is currently an agreement between the Government and the insurance industry, called the Statement of Principles that obliges insurance companies to offer flood cover as part of standard policies in most cases. The agreement does not guarantee cover for some properties e.g. those that continue to have a significant risk of flooding and in all cases does not affect the price of insurance which remains a commercial decision for insurers. The existing agreement is due to expire on 30 June 2013.

After 30th June 2013 it is unlikely that these agreements will be maintained meaning that 1000’s of homes will be left to the mercy of the Insurers and their understanding.

Due to the fact that most insurers have limited data to a particular post code area, this could mean that properties that clearly are not in danger of flooding are ‘tarred with the same brush’ making them, to most Insurers, uninsurable.

This is a major problem for Home and property owners in these areas and could lead to properties being deemed as Uninsurable.
Highhouse Insurance Services Limited has access to data that is even more detailed than that of the Environment Agency and is able to assess the potential risk of surface and other flooding down to a 5 Meter Square grid.

We have tested this data over the past 12 months and this is proving to be a ‘Lifeline’ to people that would have potentially been trapped in the trap of not being able to afford or even get quotations from insurers for their properties.

As such, we are able to offer flood insurance for properties that have been declined due to potential risk of flooding by other Insurers working without this data and now released under the agreement that is in place to the 30th June 2013.

At Highhouse we issue our own polices “in house” for property insurance, underwritten by Lloyds of London, noting lenders interests if required and we can have you on cover, with the documents over to you, your solicitor or lender, in most cases on the same day. If you require a quote, please call our office on 01243 606552 or simply complete our online form for property insurance.

Get A Free Home Insurance Quote

February 7, 2014