To be worried about potential lack of insurance on flood plain property?

[GlummyMcGlummerson]

I'm the landlord of a flat that is on a flood plain - it's never flooded, and there are high barriers in place nearby but I always get nervous when storms are brewing.

All flat owners pay a property maintenance company £500 a year for maintenance, lease and building insurance. Twice in the last 2 weeks I have asked the company for the proof of insurance, for my own peace of mind, and I've been ignored. They never answer the phones either (it's a business a couple run from home). They have however emailed me a meeting invitation to the AGM next month - so annoying as they can do that but it prove the properties are insured! I'm getting fed up with how useless they are - they've previously been cagey when I asked for a breakdown of the maintenance work that was done on the flat - in a "why do you need to know that?" Kind of attitude.

I've looked through the last few years management accounts which they send out to all flat owners, but there's no insurance certificate, just a bill for one.

AIBU to worry that the flats may in fact not be insured?

I would be very worried. Who owns the building?

I would write them a letter saying that you require details of the insurance that you are paying for and saying that if they are unable to provide details of the insurer for your tenants then you will have to reconsider if paying the proportion of the fee for the buildings insurance is viable without proof of insurance as you will need to arrange your own.

@WallyDancre it's a leasehold property - I've gone on the land registry to find out the owners and like and behold it's the property management people!

Have you got a mortgage on the flat? Evidence of buildings insurance might have been required for that, when did you buy the flat? Did your solicitor at time of purchase get evidence of the building insurance. Any historic insurance document could help you ascertain if it’s insured now by contacting the last known insurance company. There’s no public database to check but the insurance companies must have access to one as that’s how they manage to send out letters saying your insurance is due to expire and fish for your business. Maybe you could get last known insurer to confirm if the building is currently insured?

Grrr. Historical not historic. They’re not that interesting

Had the mortgage about 13 years and honestly can't remember if they checked about insurance, they must have done!

Definitely put it in writing your repeated requests for copies of the insurance details that they have assured you are in place.
Don't delay.