Home insurance issues due to neighbours' building work

[Wonderbug81]

I'm on the first floor, neighbour on ground and my insurance co is saying it can no longer insure me due to some of the work my neighbour is doing.

He is getting various work done including knocking down the back wall at garden level (which supports mine), front wall to let a digger in (wall supports mine above) and knocking the chimney breasts under mine out.

He might otherwise knock a shared access hallway out to let the digger through.

My home insurance company said the chimney breasts and shared hallway work would invalidate my insurance.

Assuming I have to get new insurance and it will be more expensive, can I ask the neighbour to pay any difference?

And is it normal for this to be the case with flats where one party is having work done?

Are there party wall awards in place?

That sounds terrifying. What is he doing to make sure your flat doesn’t fall down if he is removing structural elements?

How does your insurance company know the detail of the works your neighbour is doing? And what do they know about it that you don't? Have you checked that the neighbour has Building Control?

If the neighbour was doing everything correctly, I don't see why your insurer would be concerned. Because they are concerned, maybe you should be too?

Maybe you should send a copy of the buiding warrant and structural engineers report to your insurers, to show that the work is being done safely.

I would call building control straight away. Have you told him this is what your insurance co said?

@Gemstonebeach Exactly!

@RuntoReno He is sending me a notice and once I dissent I'll get an independent surveyor to draw up the party wall agreement (neighbour will pay). So as long as that's clear and agrees the use of supports etc, plus a Schedule of Condition, it should be fine.

But it is having knock on effects like this home insurance situation.

Not sure if I can get the additional costs of insurance added to the PW agreement?

Sorry some of the messages are only just coming up. I should have been clearer. A friend suggested I call my home insurer to understand requirements so that's how I now (apparently it's always best to call me them when major work is being done close on your property). The insurance advisor gave me the advice on the basis of a brief verbal conversation so yes, I think I'll escalate it and send more details so they can assess properly.

The neighbour has planning permission for an extension but so far the council isn't aware of the chimney work etc.