Seller being odd about sending home insurance document

[Dingdong99]

I'm looking to buy a house that has been underpinned in 1997. The seller has no info on this, and the only paperwork about it is on the local authority portal, saying it's been partially underpinned, but nothing else

Getting insurnace doesn't seem to be a problem - some insurers will allow subsidence, some won't

However, I've asked the seller for their buildings insurance to check who they are with, out of interest. First of all, they sent me a quote as opposed to an actual policy. When i asked, again, they sent their policy for 2017 through. I can also see they ticked No, for 'have you ever had subsidence'

It all seems a bit odd to me but maybe i'm being unnecessarily suspicious?

You are right to be cautious.

I don’t think they have insurance because they can’t get it or it’s far to expensive. They have also lied on the statement of fact so the policy they had at that time will be void.

Have you tried to get a quote?

Maybe they don’t have insurance.

They are under no obligation to send you their insurance documents. If you can get insurance then you will be ok. Or you can decide it's not worth the risk.

Did the current owners live there is 2007? Maybe they were unaware it was underpinned- especially if you only found out via the local authority portal. Why didnt your solicitor flag this?

Otherwise, they may not have insurance or hiding something.

It’s not the law to have house insurance when selling your home

I can get insurance with Admiral so no issues there, I just find it a bit odd

Exactly, and they may have none to save costs, and the op is not entitled to see or know.

This is my thinking.

They've either not got insurance or they have lied about the status of the underpinning to their insurer, and don't want you to see it.

They are not obliged to provide it. They might be equally as suspicious of a buyer asking for documents they don't have to provide.
You have the name of a potential provider from their quote, as well as the quote you have already received. Up to you whether you pull out or proceed

If I was the seller I would think it was very odd for the buyer to be wanting to see my home insurance policies.

They don’t have to have home insurance and don’t have to tell you if they do or don’t.

If I was the seller I wouldn’t supply you with mine as it’s house and contents cover and you can read precisely what goodies I have and where. If you can get cover, what’s the issue?

This!

there are a lot of personal details on an insurance document. I wouldn’t be sending it to anyone.

Me again we have some unusual items individually insured which I wouldn't want anyone to know we have. They are all listed on our honeymoon and contents insurance schedule with their value.

Sorry but you do not need their insurance details/policy - they have gone over and above by providing a quote. You choose to buy a property, underpinned or not, one of the due diligence you do is to check you can obtain acceptable insurance, which you are quite correctly doing. Nothing to do with the vendors.

This.

My insurance policy documents are a private contract between myself and the insurer. Absolutely none of the buyer's business and I would take a very dim view of a buyer wanting to see the documents and wonder whether they were a scammer or just clueless. Either way, they wouldn't be seeing them.

Walk away! To me ch is at stake here. I would never contemplate a house with this issue. Get out now!

What does your solicitor say?