gavin174
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 07:38 PM |
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Housing Assocciation
Evening All...
I live in a property that is owned by a housing assocciation,
in jan 2010 we had quite a bad fire at home which meant we were rehoused for 7 months while the repairs were carried out. I have contents insurance as
i understood the building insurance was included in rent.....
however I have received a letter to say, as the fire was due to neglect (cigarette) I am liable for the full cost of repairs,
somewhere in the region of £60k!!!!
they advise me to pass this on to my insurance company, as its the weekend and I cant contact them, but as I have contents only surely I am not
insured for the building.
anyone got any advice...
cant afford to run to spain either!!
thanks Gavin
http://www.essexkitcarclub.com
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steve m
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 07:43 PM |
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I dont have an answer, but do hope you can resolve this soon!!
steve
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zilspeed
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 07:45 PM |
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Is it completely rented or is it shared ownership ?
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Ben_Copeland
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 07:46 PM |
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Well i would have thought first port of call was ringing and finding out if you have actually got buildings insurance as part of the rent...
Contents is only contents and as you seem aware it wont cover the building repairs.
Ben
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gavin174
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 07:46 PM |
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completly housing assocciation,
we pay 100% rent so no housing benefit etc
thanks Steve
[Edited on 3/9/11 by gavin174]
http://www.essexkitcarclub.com
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gavin174
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 07:49 PM |
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I will ring them monday Ben
I was hoping amoungst the massive we may have a housing officer or similar, who could stop me have a completely sleep free weekend!!!
http://www.essexkitcarclub.com
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zilspeed
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 07:49 PM |
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You maybe need to be digging out your agreement at this point.
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Daddylonglegs
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 07:53 PM |
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And most definitely need to talk to Citizen's Advice. They have always been helpful for me and others I know.
Hope you get it sorted mate.
JB
It looks like the Midget is winning at the moment......
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sky12042
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 07:54 PM |
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Not My line of business, but i would of thought that to protect there property they should have some form of insurance to cover themselves, if not
then it should have been made very clear that you needed to insure the property so i would check your agreement. and perhaps i owness should have been
on them to check the building is covered.
Andy
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karlak
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 07:56 PM |
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I have just done a Google for "buildings insurance housing association". The hits seems to come back that it totally depends on the
company you are with.
Some do include it in the Rent and some don't 
EDIT: but it does seem to be a "bolt on" that you have to pay if it is included
[Edited on 3/9/11 by karlak]
[Edited on 3/9/11 by karlak]
[Edited on 3/9/11 by karlak]
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JoelP
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 07:59 PM |
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i cant say for sure but a house i own and rent out, when the insurance expired, they mortgage company found out and billed me for insuring it
themselves. If you rent it, i find it HIGHLY unlikely that neither landlord nor mortgage company have it insured. Myself, id tell them to wee off.
And stop smoking, its an expensive habit 
[Edited on 3/9/11 by JoelP]
Beware! Bourettes is binfectious.
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gavin174
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 08:00 PM |
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thanks all for the quick replies..
I need to speak to the H/Assocciation monday..
cant find the agreement, the original obviously went up in flames and we have not received a new one!!
http://www.essexkitcarclub.com
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 08:06 PM |
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I think they are trying their luck -just tell them you don't have insurance or any money or any assets, and if that fails just say your first
name is Mohammed
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
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karlak
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 08:06 PM |
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I would also give these guys a call. Perhaps before your Housing Association?
http://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/
It may well be that you should have insured it yourself for buildings..... However, I would like to see a document that I signed that made me
aware of this 'fact'. If you have and it was in the small print, then perhaps the people in the link above can help ?
MK Indy - 2litre Duratec - Omex 600 - Jenvey throttle bodies - ETB DigiDash2
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handyandy
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 08:15 PM |
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surely the word "neglect" is wrong??? it was an "accident" wasn,t it?
I,m no legal person but would have thought that the difference between the 2 meanings in law is quite helpful in your case .
Hope you get it sorted .
cheers
andy
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Ninehigh
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 08:22 PM |
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Just as a thought, why would it behoove you to have insurance on a building you don't own?
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gavin174
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 08:28 PM |
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it was deffinately an accident..
[Edited on 3/9/11 by gavin174]
http://www.essexkitcarclub.com
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cliftyhanger
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 08:40 PM |
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I suspect it is the insurance company trying to get money. Either that or the HA self-insure.
Get some proper advice. Check the contract carefully, see what your responsibilities are/were. I doubt they can actually do much, unless you have been
daft enough to say the fire is your fault. What did the fire report say??
Anyway, proper advice is what you need, expect it to cost too
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handyandy
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 08:40 PM |
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My home is with a housing assoc & I,m not required to have buildings insurance.
Thats my point.....it WAS an accident,
If you had not reported a leaking pipe that suddenly got worse & then caused major damage to the property then that would be neglect of your
tennants aggreement.
I,d be hot footing it down to the C.A.B. with a copy of your tennancy aggreement ( maybe borrow one from a neighbour that is with the same housing
assoc as you have lost yours in the fire ).
cheers
andy
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designer
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 08:44 PM |
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I suspect that the Housing Association has insurance, but is probably having a problem with the insurance payout due to the 'cause' of the
fire.
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lsdweb
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 08:45 PM |
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What does the fire report say - you / the insurers can ask the fire and rescue service for a copy (fee payable).
Regards
Wyn
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handyandy
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 08:50 PM |
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I,ve just realised something....you say the fire happened in Jan 2010, you were rehoused for 7 months for the repairs to be done ,
so that takes you upto august 2010..............why has it taken them 12/13 months ( now sept 2011 ) to send you this letter stating that you must pay
the damages ????? I,d be telling them to "sling their hook".
They ( H.A ) are trying to pull a fast one IMO.
As others have said, get some good legal advice , it,ll be worth the cost compaired to the repair bill & sleepless nights.
cheers
andy
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gavin174
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 08:54 PM |
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The letter basically says........
we are the loss adjusters instructed by AVIVA to investigate and deal with an insurance claim submitted by "housing association" for fire
damage
from the imformation we hold in our possesion, we understand that the fire was a result of negligently discarded smoking materials.
given the circumstances it is our principle intention to hold you responsible for their outlay"
to me that admits the housing association have buildings insurance... or am i misunderstanding it
[Edited on 3/9/11 by gavin174]
http://www.essexkitcarclub.com
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gavin174
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 09:02 PM |
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I should add we have at no point had any contact from the h/association to say we have to pay for the repairs..
this has come from a chartered loss adjuster. (who has spelt our surname wrong on the letter)
http://www.essexkitcarclub.com
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iank
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| posted on 3/9/11 at 09:06 PM |
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Yes, it sounds like they are insured, but the insurer are refusing to pay out, or have paid out and fancy their chances of suing you for some portion
of their loss.
It's irrelevant in that case if you have buildings insurance or not, as your insurer would likely pull the same trick.
C.A.B. on Monday would be my advise.
[Edited on 3/9/11 by iank]
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