Which insurance would pay?

Meteor67

Hi All,

After having some discussions without clear outcome I thought to put the questions up here:

I wonder whose home insurance covers the damage if a terraced house is damaged through an incident in the neighbour house, e.g. a water leak or a fire?

To make it more complicate: What if the neighbour is away for longer periods, e.g. two months, and doesn't have specific cover for this as standard cover is only for empty periods shorter then 30 days.

Would the occasional visit of a house carer for emptying the letter box etc. extend the 30 day period?

Cheers

Meteor

Meteor67

Am I asking the wrong questions or is there really nobody here who has an answer on my questions?

wench

For a fire, you each insure your own risk.
Unless your neighbour has been negligent, such as storing flammable materials unsafely, then you claim on your own insurance.

The Accidental Fire Act 1943 covers this.

coylemj

wench wrote: »

For a fire, you each insure your own risk.
Unless your neighbour has been negligent, such as storing flammable materials unsafely, then you claim on your own insurance.

The Accidental Fire Act 1943 covers this.

+1 spot on. A couple of recent cases have determined that a fire in your neighbour's house which damages your house and which can be put down to negligence cannot be classified as 'accidental' under the Accidental Fires Act 1943 .....

https://www.mcdowellpurcell.ie/legal-blog/negligent-neighbours-in-the-line-of-fire/
http://www.oshearussell.ie/fire-what-about-the-neighbours/
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/couple-responsible-for-damage-to-neighbour-s-roof-court-1.2098803

A water leak from next door would be covered by your own insurance who could afterwards sue your neighbour or claim off his insurance.