No premiums taken for home insurance

[azazello]

We had the renewal letter through for our home insurance at the end of July. The insurer had added an endorsement requiring a zonal burglar alarm to be fitted and switched on overnight and when absent from the building, it also had to have a direct link to the police station [not sure why, we don't have any valuables]. We live in a listed building so I wrote back saying we'd need listed building consent to install the alarm and couldn't do it within 7 days as they'd requested. I haven't had any reply to this letter.

I noticed today that the premium for August (first month which needs money to be taken out) hasn't been taken. Does this mean that the policy has been cancelled? Can they do this without notice? What (if anything) can we do about it?

To add to the problem, we're having building work done at the moment - just maintenance stuff plus new kitchen. Apparently we can't get insurance while building work is going on.

Any advice would be very helpful.

I would strongly suggest you call them in the morning, ask whether you are covered or not (it may be for example they have not taken payment because their systems are down but you are covered). Also consider whether they are the best insurer for you - we are a listed, historic building (lots of issues thatched, listed, conservation area, high contents value blah blah blah) hence most insurers will not touch us with a bargepole.

However, you might find the NFU Mutual is your answer. They are so good, local offices, they actually answer the phones as well! I cannot say enough good things about them, they've been so good over the years. When we got flooded they sent us an interim cheque to cover expenses before we formally put in a claim etc.

I would agree with checking with a range of insurers - some of them seem to have a strange attitude to listed buildings.

I found that the co-op and also ecclesiastical were good for quoting on listed buildings.

Thanks. Our current insurer haven't been mentioned yet so that gives me some options to try!

I'm really freaking out about the building works though, do you know if the NFU will cover while building works are going on (nothing structural, largely finished and being carried out by a very reputable local firm)?

Azazello - yes - providing you make attempts to secure the site (ie lock doors where there are doors, and let them know what's going on.) The builders should be insured as well under their own cover.

That is to say - they covered us when we had work done, however we were on site at all times. I think if you are not living there it's different.

Its okay, we're living there and there is actually someone in at all times. Thanks very much - I'll give them a call tomorrow.