Buildings insurance with indemnity policy?

[thewinehasgonetomyhead]

Does anyone have any experience of this? We are due to exchange this week, and the property we are buying has a small conservatory built but no building regs therefore the vendor has purchased an indemnity policy.

I am doing our buildings insurance quote but I can't see anywhere I have to state about this, Im not sure whether we have to declare it or not.

Not 100% but I'd imagine you don't declare it, never heard of doing so, as telling people about it can make the indemnity invalid

Thank you yes good point. Anyone else please?

Hmm, as I understand it, the indemnity policy covers you incase of action by the building control department if it's not up to regulations. But I think if it's not mentioned in your insurance, you'd invalidate your policy anyway, as the facts you're stating "to the best of your knowledge" really aren't.

What happens if you have a faulty TV in the conservatory that starts a fire and burns your house down? Surely the insurance wouldn't pay out and you'd be left with no house and your mortgage to pay.

I would ring up a few insurance companies as a prospective parent and ask the question hypothetically. Or could you ask your solicitor for advise?

This is an interesting read...

"An insurance company may refuse to pay out under a Buildings Insurance Policy if there is inadequate Building Regulation Consent for alterations to the property."

How old is the conservatory? I'd be seriously questioning why there is no building regulations certification, it only costs a few hundred £s, if it's all been built up to scratch.

I’d also be concerned, but then I work with insurance companies

Did it actually require building regs? Most are exempt if they meet certain criteria, Do you know on what grounds building regs were required?

Thanks everyone. I have phoned the insurance company and queried this with them, they said it's not something you have to declare and it's not something they ask about.

@thewinehasgonetomyhead can I ask which insurance company it is? Thanks

@Mirrorxx Barclays

Is it one of those conservatories where they have removed the external door from the rest of the house so it is open to the immediate room next to it?

You normally wouldn't need BR for a conservatory if you don't connect to the rest of the house's heating system and if you have an external separating from from the house. However, once you remove the door, it becomes an extension which is when BR kick in.

@Notyetthere hi, it's still separated from the rest of the house with external doors and no heating. I wonder why they've taken out the indemnity then?

[quote thewinehasgonetomyhead]@Notyetthere hi, it's still separated from the rest of the house with external doors and no heating. I wonder why they've taken out the indemnity then? [/quote]
Looking at that, you are right, I don't understand why they got the policy then.

Conservatories are nearly always exempt from building regs. They are treated as temporary structures and one reason why they are poorly insulated and have to retain external doors. In addition a they have to have an independent heating system.

I saw when house hunting people try to tart them up to look more part of the house, removing the external doors leading into them etc and this is what to look out for as they are no longer compliant

www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/10/conservatories/3