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Should I claim off neighbour's insurance after a fire?

130 replies

FireAdvice · 22/05/2025 20:13

My neighbour has "accidentally" set my massive conifer hedge on fire today - lost the garden office, two sheds, lots of bikes, loads of stuff, etc. Obviously the main thing is we are OK.

I have rung my insurance and they have said that I have to pay a £350 excess and they will cover other stuff. A friend has said I should claim on the neighbours insurance as then I won't be liable for an excess and also my insurance won't go up next year - how do I do that? Do I just ask the neighbour for their insurance details?

Have also lost about 30ft length of 9ft high conifer hedge - all the back boundary and half of the side boundary. But there is another 20ft of conifer hedge nearer the house still intact. My insurance have told me to get a quote for stump removal and fence instillation - can I ask for all the length of the hedge including the non damaged hedge to be removed and fenced the full length - it will look stupid having half fence and half hedge?

OP posts:
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FireAdvice · 23/05/2025 15:35

Some photos We had a shed in both corners which are just obliterated. Garden office is standing but wrecked. Aviary is wrecked. Eglu cube chicken coop is a puddle.

Should I claim off neighbour's insurance after a fire?
Should I claim off neighbour's insurance after a fire?
Should I claim off neighbour's insurance after a fire?
Should I claim off neighbour's insurance after a fire?
OP posts:
Agapornis · 23/05/2025 15:32

It's a shame it's not tree planting season, which might temporarily reduce availability.

You could consider having a first line of defence of willow and birch - high water/low resin content and should be a bit less flammable than a pine/cypress (and higher wildlife value). Then plant cypress, laurel and/or holly for evergreen sight blocking.

JohnofWessex · 23/05/2025 15:32

FireAdvice · 23/05/2025 15:31

Thank you - fire brigade are clear it started his side. Thats what I don't want - my premiums to be through the roof next year when it's not my fault.

Thats why you need The Police and The Council on his case

FireAdvice · 23/05/2025 15:32

Think my policy is up for renewal in a few weeks!!!!

OP posts:
FireAdvice · 23/05/2025 15:31

Thank you - fire brigade are clear it started his side. Thats what I don't want - my premiums to be through the roof next year when it's not my fault.

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Cyclebabble · 23/05/2025 15:29

I am an insurer by trade. When you talk about claiming on next door's insurance, I think more specifically you mean claiming against next door which their insurance would then cover? The extent to which this is possible will depend on the circumstances of the incident. I would speak to Aviva, particularly given I think you have the legal extension and ask them to pursue a claim against your neighbour. Quite important now as it may still be possible to gather sufficient evidence that the fire originated next door and if he was welding in warm weather outdoors, then he will be on the hook. I would be quite pushy on this. Too easy for this to come from your insurance which will push premiums up next year.

FireAdvice · 23/05/2025 15:25

JohnofWessex · 23/05/2025 14:43

Can you post a link to the pictures

Any more from the fire service or the Police?

This is one of the TikTok videos. There’s some other after ones too. https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdhXwy9o/

TikTok - Make Your Day

https://www.tiktok.com/@macchiatotomato/video/7507507582060236034?_t=ZN-8wb6Ob8HVY6&_r=1

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Gundogday · 23/05/2025 15:19

We lived in a flat and our washing machine leaked. No damage to our flat, but the lady below had a damaged sofa, ceiling etc. she’d wanted to claim of our insurance but couldn’t. You can only claim of your own house insurance, not someone else’s.

SherlocksHome · 23/05/2025 15:07

Wow. Just seen your post on TikTok. What a mess. And what awful neighbours.

in work in insurance and you definitely can’t claim off his insurance. You have to have ‘insurable interest’ for a company to pay out - and your neighbour doesn’t have any insurable interest in your garden or belongings.

by the sounds of him, he won’t be offering to pay your excess either.

So sorry for you op 💐

JohnofWessex · 23/05/2025 14:43

Can you post a link to the pictures

Any more from the fire service or the Police?

JohnofWessex · 23/05/2025 14:42

I suspect that the insurers will have their preferred suppliers

JustBitetheKnotsOff · 23/05/2025 14:37

FireAdvice · 23/05/2025 14:11

Amazing - thankyou - I have just counted - we need 50 of them!!!!

Smaller hedging plants are more likely to "take", though, and they grow pretty fast. I'd be inclined to take the smaller ones.

TaggieO · 23/05/2025 14:26

Christ what a mess, I’m so sorry. Also, he murdered your chickens?!?!?!? What a psycho!!!

SpacedOutOut · 23/05/2025 14:15

Saw this on TikTok this morning….hell of a mess! No advice, just hope you get it sorted!

BakelikeBertha · 23/05/2025 14:15

FireAdvice · 23/05/2025 14:11

Amazing - thankyou - I have just counted - we need 50 of them!!!!

WOW! That IS going to cost them, that's probably why the insurance company said they could only source the 4ft trees! Cheeky buggers!

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FireAdvice · 23/05/2025 13:41

Insurance have said my policy is old for new and like for like. So if I want mature hedge rather than a fence I can. But the most mature they can source is 1.2m high.

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FireAdvice · 23/05/2025 13:39

JohnofWessex · 23/05/2025 12:46

OP how's it going today

Ok thanks. I’ve spoken to a guy from Aviva today. He said that the claim is going to be way more than 10k so he has to take it to another team.

I’m slightly worried as I don’t have receipts for lots of stuff. My eglu is 15 years old, my lawnmower is 10 years old. Just don’t have them.

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NewsdeskJC · 23/05/2025 13:37

Claim off your own insurance.
You might not be covered for the hedge. But if you have new for old, you will get replacement value. Neighbours insurers will only have to pay after making a deduction for wear and tear.
Replace hedge with a 6 ft fence and make peace with it. If you can, get a metal one he can't set fire to.

FireAdvice · 23/05/2025 13:37

BombayBicycleclub · 23/05/2025 13:17

I’ve just seen your post on TikTok and the damage is so much worse than I envisioned!

It’s pretty devastating isn’t it? The disaster person is coming out this afternoon. I’ve barely slept. Have spent the morning trying to wfh while also helping Dh and dd get some stuff a bit cleaned up. We keep finding damage in crazy places.

The catio roof attached to our house 100 ft away has holes in the plastic roof from the hot ash

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JohnofWessex · 23/05/2025 13:26

That's why you need to push the Police and Council to take enforcement actions against your neighbour

BombayBicycleclub · 23/05/2025 13:17

I’ve just seen your post on TikTok and the damage is so much worse than I envisioned!

JohnofWessex · 23/05/2025 12:46

OP how's it going today