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Ivan Said:

Will home owners insurance cover car vandalizing?

We Answered:

I'm so sorry this happened. First, police don't have insurance licenses and they often have no clue what they are talking about when it comes to insurance.

Unfortunately, no, your homeowners insurance has nothing to do with your vehicle. Your automobile insurance would cover this as a vandalism claim under the comprehensive portion of your policy, less your deductible.

Be sure to take pictures and file that police report. Call your agent.

Alvin Said:

Home owners insurance - what do they cover?

We Answered:

Regarding roof leaks, a homeowners policy doesn't cover "maintenance". When your roof is leaking because it's old and needs to be replaced, they won't cover the roof. If your roof is leaking because a tree fell on it and damage the roof, well, that IS covered.

They can tell from the interior damage how long the leak has been going on, and they'll look in the attic and maybe on the roof, to see what caused the leak.

Sometimes the damage that the leak caused is covered, especially if it's not OLD damage. But if the leak has been going on for 5 years, and there's tons of old damage and rot, likely none of it will be covered. So there are a LOT of variables.

Can you LOSE money? Well, you won't have to PAY the insurance company anything, but you WILL have to fix your roof, and if anything IS covered, it's subject to your deductible. So yes, you'll be out of pocket for SOMETHING.

Adjusters aren't likely to rip you off, or rip off the insurance company. It's called insurance fraud, and punishable by jail term. Half the time they work JUST for that insurance company.

The adjusters to look out for are "public adjusters". They'll take 20% of your claim, and promise to get you a higher payout, but most of the time the increase in payout doesn't come CLOSE to covering their 20% of the claim.

What you CAN do, is get a couple roofers over for a free estimate on how much to fix the roof, their opinion on if the whole roof has to be replaced, and what caused the leak.

Kim Said:

Home Owners/Renters Insurance how does it work?

We Answered:

The equipment would be covered under the policy given that the loss happened after the start of the policy. Additionally, following a claim you would be required to prove that you actually owned this system. If the loss was a result of a fire or water damage, the proof is easily obtained in most cases. However, if there was a theft and this was one of the items taken, you would need proof of ownership. Pictures/video typically work for proof so long as they were taken within a reasonable time from from the loss. Serial numbers also help to prove the model.

When looking for coverage, there will be two types of coverage available for your belongings. The first is Actual Cash Value, where the insurance company would give you what you could reasonably expect to get for that exact system after depreciation. The second method of coverage is Replacement Cash Value. With this coverage they will pay whatever it takes, up to the policy limits, to replace your belongings with the same or similar models.

The last thing to look at is if there are limits on the policy as to how much they will pay without receipts for any one item in the electronics classification. Most policies have built in limits for items like jewelry, art work, electronics, firearms, or any other item where the value is exceptionally high for the size.

Emma Said:

what is covered under your home owners insurance?

We Answered:

If I were you I'd ask your own insurance as they are all different.
I wouldn't know exactly what mine covers but my main concern is the roof (it's a hailstone prone area) which is covered and the inside contents which are also covered for theft, the rest I am not sure.
If I were you I'd do something about the wall.

Gregory Said:

our home owners insurance wont cover our claim because they said it was preexsisting?

We Answered:

In the US - most insurance policies specifically exclude damage that happens over a period of weeks, months or years. That would be the language in our policy that would prevent payment of your claim. I know you are in the UK. But odds are, your policy has similar language in it.

This is not a sudden and accidental condition. Odds are, you have a moisture problem under your home. This has encourage the mold/rot growth that had damaged the sub-floor and framing members under the home. This is a problem that has taken years to develop.

The homeowners policy is designed to pay for sudden and accidental damage. EX: a washing machine hose ruptures spilling water all over the laundry room.

EX: a hot pan of grease catches fire damaging the kitchen cabinetry.

See the difference between those examples and your situation? Your situation is something that has taken years to develop.

In the end, if its not covered - its not covered. The only advice to give is - determine the source of the moisture problem under the home. If you don't solve that problem, then all the money you put out in repairs will end up wasted when the mold/rot starts to develop on the new wood.