Help: Home Insurance

[arworld]

Hi All,

I know there have been a number of threads on this but I was wondering whether anyone could help me on this?

We bought our house back in 2008 and we have been with Halifax for building and contents insurance. However, I received their renewal notice and it?s ?1,400 for a four bedroom Victorian mid terrace house! I have subsequently looked at price comparison website and it looks like we can get the premium substantially lower if I ticked ?no sign of subsidence? box.

According to the building structural survey done back in 2008, ?There is some evidence of previous movement with cracking around some window openings along with minor sagging to the roof structure, slight twisting to the parapet walls, distortion to window openings and the front bay, uneven stone window cills, distortion to brick arches, gaps around window frames, as well as some cracking to the rear elevation around the rear door, some cracking internally to the rear elevation within the kitchen (and at some wall junctions) and slight sloping to most timber flooring. These cracks are old and worn and not reflected by any corresponding internal movement. The extent of the movement is within acceptable limits for a property of this type and age and there is no evidence of any recent or continuing movement. Some of the cracking appears to be typical of minor seasonal movement?.

When I called a number of insurers and declare this, none of them would insure our house!

So question is, do I tick the ? no sign of subsidence? box and get a cheaper insurance or do I have to stay with Halifax?

Any advices would be really appreciated?.

Thank you!

[Carrie]

It really is not worth the risk - if you tick the no signs of subsidence box the insurers will have a nice get out if you ever need to make a subsidence claim!

[giggirl]

My insurance is with the Halifax too. I don't want to switch because I want the continuity (the property has been continuously insured with the Halifax for 14 years).

Every Spring when I get my renewal notice I phone up the Halifax and have a conversation that goes something like "how much, you're having a laugh; I'm taking my business away and going somewhere else". The price gets instantly slashed and I stay with the Halifax for another year.

Loyalty doesn't pay with utilities and such; you have to keep threatening to leave or you won't get a reasonable quote.

Don't tell lies to your insurer.

[Gidget]

Are signs of movement the same as signs of subsidence? Esp. if it is historical? Any surveyors out there?

[dbboy]

Have pm'd you.

[Pugwash]

we too have stayed with the Halifax for over 30 years as houses each side of me have had subsidence and although we do not have any (touch wood) Barry Road with all it's trees is a 'high risk area'. Our neighbour had trouble getting his insurance to pay out several thousands of pounds in costs and took him a good 6 - 9 months and he was a solicitor. I think we have to pay the first ?1000 of any claim, if we changed we would need to pay ?3 - ?5 K

[the-e-dealer]

Try Admiral ?400 for a four bed victorian house! I did it through Moneysupermarket.#

As it includes contents I save ?1200 on th AA's offering! Amazing!

[wumoyuay]

Loyalty doesn't pay with utilities and such; you have to keep threatening to leave or you won't get a reasohttp://www.dubaa.info/good.gifnable quote.