Buildings insurance & accommodating for disability

66Mustang

Does anyone have any experience of making a buildings insurance claim and getting alternative accommodation with special needs?

Our bathroom is currently not usable and I am not able to use something like a neighbour’s shower or gym shower or something, I need my “own” shower e.g. a hotel room or something like that

I think a “normal” person would be told to just live in the house like normal but find somewhere else to have a shower, that’s not an option for me

I have severe OCD and stuff so can’t go without a shower

We have alternative accommodation cover up to £50k or something but it has to be reasonable, would it be considered reasonable if I gave evidence of my conditions etc.??

Can anyone advise what we might be able to do??

Thanks

MW123

@66Mustang

If the bathroom renovation is a result of an insured event (e.g., water damage, fire, etc.) that made the bathroom unusable and the insurance company has approved the claim for repairs or renovation, then you may be able to claim the alternative accommodation benefit.

Most insurance policies provide alternative accommodation coverage when the insured property becomes uninhabitable due to an insured peril or event that caused damage to the property. The purpose of this coverage is to provide temporary housing for the policyholders while necessary repairs or renovations are being carried out to restore the property to a habitable condition.

It's advisable to review your policy documents carefully and consult with your insurance company to understand the specific terms, conditions, and limitations of the alternative accommodation coverage in your case. They can provide guidance on whether your bathroom renovation qualifies for this benefit and what documentation or evidence they may require to process your claim.

66Mustang

Thanks for the replies

Yes it's due to an insured event, fortunately for us, the only bother we have to worry about is not having a bathroom to use for a time, which I'm grateful for as it could be worse

I understand that they provide accommodation when the whole house is not usable, but I wonder if the bathroom comes under that, because it's a necessary part of the house being able to be lived in (we only have one bathroom)

I guess most people would be told to shower at work or at the gym or something but that's not an option as a result of my conditions

Thanks again for all the tips 😊

OverlyAnxious

I think most people just wouldn't shower for the short term. They'd have a flannel wash of the vital parts using the sink instead.

I don't think this sort of thing would be covered by insurance, but interested to know the result.

MW123

@Mustang66

Insurers must make reasonable adjustments for disabilities under the Equality Act 2010. Clearly explain your condition to the insurer, providing documentation from your doctor or mental health team about your severe OCD and the need for private bathroom facilities. If initially denied, appeal by referencing the Equality Act.

The £50,000 limit for alternative accommodation in your policy should cover a hotel room if required. According to Financial Conduct Authority guidance, homeowner insurance should provide alternative accommodation if the home is uninhabitable. You can argue that your home is uninhabitable due to the bathroom issue, especially given your condition. Insurers should consider individual circumstances, particularly disabilities or medical conditions, so your request should be seriously considered.

66Mustang

Thanks a lot @MW123, that makes sense to me

The one thing I'm worried about is that we didn't inform them of my conditions before taking out the policy

Would this mean that they wouldn't be covered, because they might have charged more if they knew?

In our defence, we were not asked about any disabilities when getting our quote - we were asked if we had any expensive disability aids for our contents insurance, but what (if any) conditions or disabilities didn't come up at all, and we were not given an opportunity to specify these

Thanks again!!

@OverlyAnxious I'll be sure to post back when I get a result/answers 😊 I'm aware we could just ring them but we can't until Monday so just trying to plan ahead

MW123

@66Mustang

While insurance contracts impose a duty of disclosure on policyholders, insurers also bear responsibility for soliciting relevant information through appropriate questioning. If the insurer failed to enquire about disabilities or medical conditions, and no clear opportunities for disclosure were provided, this could potentially limit the insurer's ability to contest claims related to undisclosed conditions.

Insurance policies are legally binding contracts. When policyholders fulfil their obligations by paying premiums and adhering to policy conditions, insurers are correspondingly obligated to provide the agreed-upon coverage. In your case, the policy includes alternative accommodation coverage, with the trigger (bathroom usability) directly linked to a covered event (the cause of your bathroom's unusable state). This establishes a compelling case for your entitlement to this benefit. Based on the information provided, the situation appears unambiguous, a covered event has rendered your sole bathroom unusable, effectively making your home uninhabitable, particularly given your OCD diagnosis.

When communicating with your insurer, it is advisable to have your policy documentation readily available and be prepared to reference specific clauses supporting your claim. This approach demonstrates your thorough understanding of the policy terms and strengthens your position.

Insurance policies are contractual agreements that bind both parties to the terms and conditions outlined therein. Assuming you have consistently met your premium obligations and fulfilled your responsibilities under the policy, the insurer is legally bound to provide the coverage to which you are entitled.

66Mustang

Thank you very much for your time posting this info @MW123 the advice is extremely useful