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Original poster

I have just been denied house insurance!?!?

28 replies

MummyNessi · 04/05/2018 16:00

I have just been on the phone with Admiral for house insurance as we need to have insurance for our new house at exchange of contract if I have understood correctly? And they said they can't insure it until our renovation ( painting and change of flooring is done) and we have moved in!?!?
What? It must be quite common to paint and decorate a house before you move in no?!

Who have you got insurance with who have done this?

OP posts:
Slightlyperturbedowlagain · 04/05/2018 16:01

When we’ve moved we’ve always coughed up for house insurance via our mortgage provider for the first year as they will usually throw in the period between exchange and completion as well.

Original poster
MummyNessi · 04/05/2018 16:57

We do not have a mortgage...

OP posts:
BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 04/05/2018 16:59

Perhaps the problem is with it not being occupied (which is a higher risk) rather than the renovation.

wormery · 04/05/2018 17:16

I wonder if the problem is that the property would be unoccupied for a while between exchange, completion and the date you move in from, that might put the premium up. I can't see why you need to tell them you are redecorating. Have you tried any other companies.

Easilyflattered · 04/05/2018 17:38

We've just exchanged and Churchill are insuring both our sold and bought house until completion in a weeks time.

We are moving straight from one to the other though, I expect it's the property being unlived in during renovation that's the problem?

Humptynumpty02 · 04/05/2018 17:38

You can get unoccupied insurance but this won't typically cover contents but I guess you don't have anything in the house anyways?

Original poster
MummyNessi · 04/05/2018 17:39

Ahhh maybe that's the issue he would not elaborate to me on the phone but online it only askes when you want the insurance to start and if the property is currently under renovation witch it is not.. so maybe I just do it online. Just thought it would be good to call up as we have car insurance with admiral but I guess I will need to go with someone els now..

OP posts:
BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 04/05/2018 19:58

The problem is that most online forms will ask if you have ever been refused insurance, which you now have, and will probably want a follow-up phone call.

Badgertastic · 04/05/2018 20:02

Will the house be unoccupied during the refurbishment? If so there are several specialist insurance companies who deal with unoccupied properties.

EspressoButler · 04/05/2018 20:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
MummyNessi · 04/05/2018 20:06

Oh crap do you think this counts as been refused insurance... I guess it does... I didn't even think of that... but if I use the form iv already filled in a few days ago but online will it be an issue?

OP posts:
PinkBuffalo · 04/05/2018 20:09

I have exchanged today as a FTB.
I just did mine via confused.com to start today ("date of exchange)
No complications. The only thing is it took my new house as my actual address so the documents are being sent to the new house. Vendors are aware and not a problem. And it's only a week til we complete next Friday. I'm not moving in straight away, but will be spending quite a bit of time moving in officially, and spending most of my time there.
Can you just do it online? It was really quick to sort out

Original poster
MummyNessi · 04/05/2018 20:09

Thank you espresso butler! At least I can get an other insurance! They where just so vague and then nhelpfull! Just tell me what was wrong and maybe I'll change my mind...

OP posts:
bearbehind · 04/05/2018 20:12

Painting and changing flooring isn't renovation, its decoration.

The perils of on line form box ticking.

Original poster
MummyNessi · 04/05/2018 20:18

Pink buffalo: that is what I want to do. We have a few weeks overlapping between our rental contract Finnish and is ( hopefully) having the keys as you can never be sure can you about the exact date until you exchange so I don't understand why it's such an issue..?

OP posts:
Original poster
MummyNessi · 04/05/2018 20:26

Bear behind, that's what I thought so ticked not renovating in the online version but when I said that on the phone they had to speak with a college and then that s when they came back and refused until we had moved in and where done renovating

OP posts:
Scotinoz · 04/05/2018 20:45

We had insurance through M&S when we did this - unoccupied, decorating etc etc. M&S insurance was great cover and the call centre staff were lovely

Topsyloulou · 04/05/2018 21:08

It's normally only an issue if the property is going unoccupied for more than 30 days or are having major building work done. Decorating is fine and you don't need to declare it. Just go on to Comparethemarket and you can get quotes from numerous providers.

LoftyLou · 04/05/2018 21:44

I think they made a mistake if you are literally just painting and changing flooring.

I opened a policy with Lloyds in the last few weeks, and we were just finishing some structural renovations.

Lloyds were very clear to me on the phone that painting and decorating are not classed as renovation work, and that they could open the policy as soon as the structural build itself was complete, I didn’t have to wait for the painting to be finished, carpets down.

AgnesSkinner · 05/05/2018 09:16

We were in a similar situation, with about 3 months between completion of our purchase and actually moving in. We took out buildings insurance that allowed for the property to be empty for more than 30 days - it’s not uncommon if you think about properties being renovated or under probate. We then switched back to our usual insurer at renewal time.

mrsplum2015 · 05/05/2018 09:36

The issue is that normal house insurance won't cover a house that is empty for more than 30 consecutive days.
You may need a specialist provider.

bakingdemon · 05/05/2018 23:00

Yep, when our house was being done up and we weren't living in it, we had to get special insurance. It's a bit of a nightmare as they'll want a lot of details about the contract and the work, but you do need it.

LooksLikeImStuckHere · 05/05/2018 23:06

We had to get special insurance when renovating our house as we weren’t living in it.

Before we moved we were with John Lewis and they weren’t able to extend the policy to the renovation. I don’t class that as them refusing us house insurance, they just didn’t provide that type of house insurance and were happy to cancel the policy so we could go elsewhere amidst many apologies for not being able to help!

Shampaincharly · 07/05/2018 21:53

Hiscox?

Sweetpotatoaddict · 07/05/2018 21:58

I used m&s as well, very helpful however their prices have rocketed recently.

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