Panic over not being able to get house insurance....help!!!

[igglepiddle]

Hope someone can help here! Just bought new house, got house insurance with a certain high street bank. (was the same as who are providing our mortgage) When I had to answer the questions over the phone to set up the insurance re: details about risks etc I must have accidentally said no to the one which mentioned 'has it ever had subsidence, settlement or structal movement' (did have two young children running round me at the time-bit frazzled. Anyway, when I got the paperwork and I checked to make sure all ok I realised my mistake and phoned them. We'd been insured with them for a week or so by now. I explained the situation - the survey (full structual) mentioned "very minor settlement above one door, of no concern, to be expected in a property of this age. No further comments."
To my amazement they went through to the underwriters who said no, we will now not insure you. Argghhhhh - massive stress as you can imagine. Spoke to the very helpful surveyor who said this was ridiculous and even offered to write a supporting letter to the bank to allay any concerns. Anyway, passed this back to the bank who won't change their mind and now we are having great problems getting another companies to insure us because they know we have had a previous refusal. Am really confused because on the 'Valuation for mortgage purposes form' that the same bank's mortgage dept had it actually clearly states the property has had structual movement but that it isn't recent or progressive. So didn't they know anyway?? Does anyone have any advice, am feeling so stressed and worried about this. Terrified at the prospect of not being able to get ANY insurance.....

[GrendelsMum]

You could try NFU Mutual - they insure a lot of quirky buildings, so may accept yours. They are also very pleasant to deal with if you have to claim.

[kittykat765]

Ok so have checked with the online guide that we use for policies.

it states that 'If a property has had settlement or movement in the past and the survey states that this is long standing, historic and non-progressive this will be acceptable'.

Based on this we would insure a customer without even needing to refer to underwriters so cannot see why the company you are with is treating you differently.

[igglepiddle]

Thanks so much everyone, really helps to have that quote Kittykat, will def be following this up. Want into the branch this morning and complained, woman there very helpful and is helping refer it on. What a frickin' nightmare though!!!!!!!