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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU building insurance should cover a broken garden wall

45 replies

user1471427614 · 18/03/2022 16:51

My rear garden wall was knocked over during the storms. Around 4 meters of 6ftcwall has been damaged.

I have waited 2 weeks a surgery from the insurance company to round to say it's not covered...wrong type of bricks.

I've never made a claim before so have no experience in claims. Am I being unreasonable to think this is exactly what I have been paying my insurance for years for. Any advice please

AIBU building insurance should cover a broken garden wall
AIBU building insurance should cover a broken garden wall
AIBU building insurance should cover a broken garden wall
OP posts:
MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet · 18/03/2022 16:52

We had similar with our insurance company but I think it was 'wrong kind of wind'. So an expensive repair and we changed insurance company.

user1471447863 · 18/03/2022 18:30

That's only a wall in name. It has the structural integrity of a net curtain. It looks like someone has raised the height of the low single skin brick built wall with the decorative blocks and it looks like the mortar has come clean off the bricks/was never that well adhered in the first place.
Anyone can do a spot of bob the builder and cobble up a garden wall that will fall down in the next storm/rain shower so I would only really expect an insurance company to cover (and pay out) on on something with a bit of substance and quality to it.

TrickyD · 18/03/2022 18:39

I think you are quite lucky that it did not fall down on top of anyone, well before the storm. It looks as if it was very fragile.

Floralnomad · 18/03/2022 18:43

I have quite good house insurance but I wouldn’t assume a fence or decorative garden wall would be covered and with those blocks it definitely counts as decorative as opposed to a garden wall .

SilverHairedCat · 18/03/2022 18:43

Bloody hell, who built that? Looks like it was very badly constructed.

EmpressCixi · 18/03/2022 18:44

The decorative blocks on top do not look as if they were structurally sound before the storm. I can see why the insurance company won’t pay out. You’re better off now it’s come down without hurting anyone. Imagine if that had collapsed on your DC or you one day.

Blossomtoes · 18/03/2022 18:44

It’s standard insurance company dishonesty. Someone I know lost a flat roof in the storms. The insurance company declined to pay because it was apparently on its last legs. I absolutely detest the bastards.

QuizzlyBear · 18/03/2022 18:47

Honestly I'm usually first to shout 'bastard dishonest insurance companies!' but in truth there's no residue of mortar or cement on the top of the bricks, strongly suggesting it wasn't adhered properly.

I think you're lucky it didn't come down on somebody!

Moobootoyoutoo · 18/03/2022 18:51

Have you got any pictures of what it was like beforehand - I just can't see how that was built - one small tub of ready mixed mortar I'd guess? As others think you may have had a lucky escape there

Original poster
user1471427614 · 18/03/2022 19:51

Thanks for the advice. The wall was structural sound before the strom and had no movement at all.....like the other half of the wall which is still standing. It was well constructed and original to when the house was bulit so granted old now. The whole garden is enclosed with this wall.

I really dont understand why it isnt covered regardless of whether people are considering it decorative. It is the boundary to another property. It was found and damage has happened surly this is what insurance is for.

It this is the case it will have to be rebuilt by a terriable builder with no skill....me as I wont be able to afford to have it done by a professional....again this is why I pay for insurance

I really

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 18/03/2022 19:57

That’s definitely not been constructed properly. It’s not been tied into the brick built wall beneath it, looks very much like an added extra. There’s hardly any mortar either. I’m surprised that this was damaged by the storm and yet the wooden fence right next to it wasn’t. Maybe post a picture of the same wall in a different part of the property?

hennaoj · 18/03/2022 20:02

Isn't the actual brick part the boundary? Those concrete things are from the 1970's/80's (I personally think they are awful).

user1493494961 · 18/03/2022 20:07

It's not a proper wall.

BeautifulGreenEyes · 18/03/2022 20:08

Sorry @user1471427614 but MANY insurance policies now don't cover outside stuff (not attached to the property.) Be that fences, walls, sheds or whatever... Our fence (four 6 foot panels) went with the storms the other week, and we had to pay to replace it.

You're going to have to sort this yourself. Although do check the policy first, to see if it DOES exclude non-attached walls.

Itloggedmeoutagain · 18/03/2022 20:15

Wouldn't occur to me to claim.
Does your policy say you're covered for external decorative walls?
I just paid for my own fence when it was damaged in the storm

MrsGhastlyCrumb · 18/03/2022 20:15

We have similar bricks where I live, surrounding the car parking area. They also came down in a storm a few years ago, causing someone's car to be written off. The insurance refused to pay out as it was 'an act of God'.

Hankunamatata · 18/03/2022 20:25

Id say its not a proper brick wall, more of a decorative topper.

Original poster
user1471427614 · 18/03/2022 20:44

The policy say fences and gates arent covered...this is a wall as it made of bricks enclosing the whole boundary of the garden.

OP posts:
Readyforspring · 18/03/2022 20:48

That was never built properly to start with.

Terryscombover · 18/03/2022 20:49

I would ask specifically where in your policy that type of brick is excluded and ask them for the evidence that they ever sent you the updated information if they say it was a recent amendment. If they have records of it been posted you will have a weak case but I got a pay out once as they clearly excluded something just for my claim to be rejected!

Original poster
user1471427614 · 18/03/2022 20:59

Terryscombover thanks for the advice

OP posts:
Nat6999 · 18/03/2022 21:06

Go to the ombudsman, I lost half my roof on the house I owned in a storm & they tried to say I hadn't told them it was a shingle roof, the only question they had asked was what construction the house was which I had answered correctly that it was a timber framed with brick outer skin, nothing about the roof in the question. I won with the ombudsman, got paid out in full & also got compensation for the fact they had caused me so much stress because I had water pouring through the hole in the roof.

Original poster
user1471427614 · 18/03/2022 21:19

Nat6998 thanks for the advice. Glad you won that sounds a terriable thing to have to put up with.

As you say the company has never asked questions about construction other than is it standard construction which they say is brick...mine is

OP posts:
MotherOfDragons27 · 18/03/2022 21:26

Except it's not brick is it. The part that's come down isn't made of brick. The brick wall is still standing.

Soontobe60 · 18/03/2022 21:37

@user1471427614

Nat6998 thanks for the advice. Glad you won that sounds a terriable thing to have to put up with.

As you say the company has never asked questions about construction other than is it standard construction which they say is brick...mine is

They are called screen blocks - made out of concrete, they’re not bricks.