Wendy house has blown into nightmare neighbours car and cracked rear light.

[user1488481370]

We’ve actually very recently had to move because of these neighbours (my in laws/OH’s brother and his partner) and their harassment/threats however OH still owns the house.

Kids had a Wendy house, the house we’re renting doesn’t currently have a garden or anywhere to store it. Wendy house was in a corner between a wall which is at least 5 feet and OH’s house. We’ve had storms before and it’s never blown over the wall before, we did have a 10kg bag of play sand on the roof too.

We had BIL banging on our door this morning going absolutely mad because the Wendy house had blown over the wall and cracked his partner’s car’s rear light. Demanded payment there and then. Really quite scary when I was on my own with 4 children. Threatened to ring the police if he didn’t calm down and told him to go away and ring me about it later.

We’re wondering if it would be covered under OH’s house insurance or is it an act of god? They’ve reacted completely out of proportion to the issue. Despite everything they’ve done it doesn’t sit right with either myself or OH to not pay for the damage caused and I really don’t want any more aggro as I’m finding it quite triggering.

Posted here for traffic really but WWYD? Or what should we be doing?

It is horrible when some people assume everyone else is going to be a selfish bastard - he could have gone round and talked about it like a civilised human being.

Call your insurance company to ask.

Very unreasonable not to have realised a Wendy house was a potential issue with all the warning we had about the weather and have tied it down or moved it to safety.

We’ve had no warning about the weather 🤣

@BoredZelda it also had a 10kg bag of sand on top of it and in the 4 years of owning it, it’s never once blown over the wall!

@Echobellyhe judges people by his own standards! We’re just going to pay, but he can send us quotes first. Then my conscience is at ease and it doesn’t give them an excuse for more shitty behaviour.

Act of god.

Unless you control the wind, in that case can you turn it off please? My house has took a battering in 65mph winds today.

10k bag of sand on roof = 10 bags of sugar, a good wind is not going to look at it twice in reality. Strong winds pick cars & boats up, so a Wendy house is easy meat. Hope your covered for it

it also had a 10kg bag of sand on top of it and in the 4 years of owning it, it’s never once blown over the wall!

Well, it did today.

We’ve had no warning about the weather

Then you weren't paying attention.

@user1488481370 would you consider a restraining order app,cation.
If not possible for your husband one in respect of you so it’s a breach if he comes to your current home.

@BoredZelda being farmers we pay very close attention to the weather. I last looked at my weather app last night. Have you even RTFT?

@CraftyGin

I would just pay for it.

No point in claiming on insurance.

Agreed.

Does it matter if the OP has looked at the forecast or not?
Here the winds have done a lot of damage and the OP couldn’t have done anything else than what she has done already. The Wendy house couldn’t have been taken inside, it was weighted….

@user1488481370 I know you say it’s your DH business etc….
But I would REALLY look at a way to put a stop to your BIL actions. It’s going to destroy your life if you stay as passive as that (and ignore it).

I mean the letting the livestock out and getting the dogs after it is awful! Your DP needs to address that.

@CraftyGin

I would just pay for it.

No point in claiming on insurance.

That’s what insurance is for 🙄

OMG I remember your previous threads. He is absolutely batshit. Yes, because your wendy house did indeed escape the garden I'd pay on this occasion. I'm so glad you're out of that house, even though it's the 'gift' that keeps giving.

If it's just the lens it won't cost much - get a quote yourself or buy the lens and Fitbit yourself. Watch out them charging you for respraynor whatever - gets pics

I’d leave him to report it to the police if that’s what he what’s to do but you should contact your insurance company and ask them what they advice. I’d be dubious to just pay for it as cash in hand in case he then miraculously finds more damage.

Legally speaking you are highly unlikely to be liable unless how you had stored the Wendy House was negligent (I.e you knew there was a foreseeable risk that it would become dislodged and damage your neighbour's property). It seems highly unlikely that could be established.

Two options. Partner claims on her motor insurance. Motor insurers would then need to consider if they could pursue you (or your liability insurers if liability cover is included in your own house insurance - often it isn't) and they would probably conclude there is no point because no evidence of negligence. A WH is a very normal item to have in your garden and sounds like a freak unpredicted gust of wind. The 10kg of sand weighting it down is also in your favour as it shows reasonable precautions.

Your household insurance will not cover the damage to third party property per se, it can only cover liability for loss and expense suffered by a third party, as explained above. So that's not an option.

Second option - you both keep it away from insurers (it won't be a big cost) and make an arrangement between you. It might be simplest to just pay the amount to make the issue go away. Or you can tell him to whistle for it. Nothing much he can do formally but he might ramp up his aggressive behaviour.

Have you spoken to the police about the glass and rat poison? That is posing a serious risk to your kids. I'd get a restraining order.

Well done for escaping! But surely you need him fully out of your lives? He sounds dangerous!

Are OH and BiL in a dispute about a family farm and is that at the root of this?

I have rarely seen family bear grudges worse than in farming families over even quite small amounts of land.

I would ask for quotes as depending on the vehicle as for those saying it wont be a big cost it could be (for e.g some vehicles come with the back light as a whole unit you cannot just replace the cover)Then decide whether to approach your insurance about it.
Once had to replace a headlight on a vehicle where a stone had gone through the lens and the main agent wanted £900 just for the part, there are after market companies out there and I managed to get one of them for £400.

[quote user1488481370]@BoredZelda being farmers we pay very close attention to the weather. I last looked at my weather app last night. Have you even RTFT?[/quote]
Another poster who suits their username OP 😉

Get the make,model and year of the car and to a Google search for:

[year], [make], [model] rear light lens.

You should get a number of hits, most with a photo so you can be sure it's the right one, you can order online and have it delivered.
You might be alarmed at how much those bits of plastic cost, but that's the downside.