Norm Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 Doing the annual policy renewals and I probably should have cleared this up ages ago. Basically, I don't know what I live in and was wondering if anyone can give me advice. We live in a 4 in a block. One of those ones where there's 4 homes in a building, everyone has their own entrance on the ground floor, but we're one of the 2 homes on the top floor. What the **** is that classed as? A flat? A maisonette? (An upper villa, according to the estate agents when the neighbours punted theirs a while ago) Basically, I don't want to be one of those folk who gets shafted by their insurer over something as daft as having the wrong type of house on the policy. Anyone able to help? Google doesn't seem to make it clear one way or the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankblack Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 Sounds like you have a place like mine. Guess I'm about to find out if my home insurance is invalid. I put down maisonette. When I bought it was advertised as a "Double Upper". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 Cottage Flat I believe 😎 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 Just now, davemclaren said: Cottage Flat I believe 😎 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottage_flat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 Quarter Villa? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Potter Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 12 minutes ago, Normthebarman said: Doing the annual policy renewals and I probably should have cleared this up ages ago. Basically, I don't know what I live in and was wondering if anyone can give me advice. We live in a 4 in a block. One of those ones where there's 4 homes in a building, everyone has their own entrance on the ground floor, but we're one of the 2 homes on the top floor. What the **** is that classed as? A flat? A maisonette? (An upper villa, according to the estate agents when the neighbours punted theirs a while ago) Basically, I don't want to be one of those folk who gets shafted by their insurer over something as daft as having the wrong type of house on the policy. Anyone able to help? Google doesn't seem to make it clear one way or the other. Aye better be spot on, any excuse not to pay on a claim, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted August 5, 2020 Author Share Posted August 5, 2020 29 minutes ago, davemclaren said: Cottage Flat I believe 😎 See, that's why I had it as a flat previously but going by compare the market, a maisonette seems more accurate going by their descriptions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3fingersreid Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 Upper villa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankblack Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 41 minutes ago, davemclaren said: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottage_flat That isn't mine then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GinRummy Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 51 minutes ago, davemclaren said: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottage_flat Hadn’t heard of a cottage flat in my life before. Learned something there. Anyway OP, upper villa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howdy Doody Jambo Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 An Aston Villa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 Upper villa. This isn't mine. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-82885480.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 Just now, Alex said: Upper villa. This isn't mine. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-82885480.html Technically a flat, according to the headline. 😄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 11 minutes ago, GinRummy said: Hadn’t heard of a cottage flat in my life before. Learned something there. Anyway OP, upper villa. First I had heard of the term was a few months ago when some kids died in a fire in one in Glasgow. 🙁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted August 5, 2020 Author Share Posted August 5, 2020 Regarding the suggestions for upper villa, the issue is none of the insurers, or at least none of the comparisons, have that as an option. Flat, detached house, terraced house, bungalow, villa or maisonette are the options generally, however the villa is for a standalone single accommodation as opposed to the upper and lower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS86 Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 Maisonette. I work in insurance so can say this with a degree of confidence rather than just guessing 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 5 minutes ago, RS86 said: Maisonette. I work in insurance so can say this with a degree of confidence rather than just guessing 👍 A maisonette is effectively a two storey flat. This is one storey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Potter Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 2 hours ago, Ma Roon said: An Aston Villa 🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairdryer Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 Upper flatted villa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Do The Dance Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 I stayed in a 4 in a block. Called it a upper/lower villa or a simply a flat if there wasn't that option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Do The Dance Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 1 hour ago, davemclaren said: A maisonette is effectively a two storey flat. This is one storey. This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted August 5, 2020 Author Share Posted August 5, 2020 (edited) The thing with calling it a flat is that an insurer would assume that there's one main entrance to the building for all residents. Whereas a maisonette doesn't. I would assume that would be one of the main differences in risk as well, the shared or private entrance. Edited August 5, 2020 by Normthebarman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXX Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 (edited) Your home insurance may be invalid if you don’t have a burglar alarm. Edited August 5, 2020 by The Spy Who Loved Me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 37 minutes ago, The Spy Who Loved Me said: Your home insurance may be invalid if you don’t have a burglar alarm. 🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXX Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 8 minutes ago, davemclaren said: 🤔 For failing to use security. Many insurers insist that if you have an alarm it must be activated at certain times, like when you leave the house. If a burglar gains unforced access to your home due to no alarm or not activated, you wouldn’t be covered for anything stolen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 5 minutes ago, The Spy Who Loved Me said: For failing to use security. Many insurers insist that if you have an alarm it must be activated at certain times, like when you leave the house. If a burglar gains unforced access to your home due to no alarm or not activated, you wouldn’t be covered for anything stolen. I’m not aware the OP said he had a burglar alarm but I might have missed it. Most insurers don’t mandate you having one though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hughesie27 Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 1 hour ago, Normthebarman said: The thing with calling it a flat is that an insurer would assume that there's one main entrance to the building for all residents. Whereas a maisonette doesn't. I would assume that would be one of the main differences in risk as well, the shared or private entrance. I believe on Compare the Market that is a separate question. For the OP. I live in the same style house and belive we went with Flat. Seems daft, especially when we have an attic conversion but it seemed the best option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted August 5, 2020 Author Share Posted August 5, 2020 2 hours ago, The Spy Who Loved Me said: For failing to use security. Many insurers insist that if you have an alarm it must be activated at certain times, like when you leave the house. If a burglar gains unforced access to your home due to no alarm or not activated, you wouldn’t be covered for anything stolen. As long as you say you don't have one, you're fine. The absence of an alarm is taken in to consideration with a slightly higher premium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jb102 Posted August 6, 2020 Share Posted August 6, 2020 Semi detached upper villa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ribble Posted August 6, 2020 Share Posted August 6, 2020 14 hours ago, The Spy Who Loved Me said: For failing to use security. Many insurers insist that if you have an alarm it must be activated at certain times, like when you leave the house. If a burglar gains unforced access to your home due to no alarm or not activated, you wouldn’t be covered for anything stolen. That would only be for contents, not buildings insurance on it's own? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXX Posted August 6, 2020 Share Posted August 6, 2020 29 minutes ago, Ribble said: That would only be for contents, not buildings insurance on it's own? Home insurance is split into two basic types of policy. Buildings insurance, and contents insurance. Buildings insurance is there to protect the structure of the house and any permanent fixtures inside. Contents insurance is designed to protect your belongings. As a general rule, your contents are the things that could be taken with you if you decided to move house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronJambo Posted August 6, 2020 Share Posted August 6, 2020 Call them and ask them the classification they'd prefer. I had a shocker with my car insurance renewal. Glanced at the schedule and there's Mr S Ironjambo and Mrs S Ironjambo. All good I thinks. Look closer at the documents and they've got the same name down for her as they have me. My existing policy which had 3 days to run for the year was the same. I'd only seen the Mr and Mrs parts with the diet initial in the past. She wasn't insured properly for a whole year 🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted August 6, 2020 Share Posted August 6, 2020 22 hours ago, Normthebarman said: Doing the annual policy renewals and I probably should have cleared this up ages ago. Basically, I don't know what I live in and was wondering if anyone can give me advice. We live in a 4 in a block. One of those ones where there's 4 homes in a building, everyone has their own entrance on the ground floor, but we're one of the 2 homes on the top floor. What the **** is that classed as? A flat? A maisonette? (An upper villa, according to the estate agents when the neighbours punted theirs a while ago) Basically, I don't want to be one of those folk who gets shafted by their insurer over something as daft as having the wrong type of house on the policy. Anyone able to help? Google doesn't seem to make it clear one way or the other. According to housing I'm in a bedsit flat. How they work that out I've no idea. However I spoke with LV and I got a pretty good deal on my insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ribble Posted August 6, 2020 Share Posted August 6, 2020 1 hour ago, The Spy Who Loved Me said: Home insurance is split into two basic types of policy. Buildings insurance, and contents insurance. Buildings insurance is there to protect the structure of the house and any permanent fixtures inside. Contents insurance is designed to protect your belongings. As a general rule, your contents are the things that could be taken with you if you decided to move house. Yes so an alarm would only generally apply to contents? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXX Posted August 6, 2020 Share Posted August 6, 2020 (edited) Deleted. Edited August 6, 2020 by The Spy Who Loved Me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXX Posted August 6, 2020 Share Posted August 6, 2020 (edited) 23 minutes ago, Ribble said: Yes so an alarm would only generally apply to contents? Yes, but it does not include theft from garages or outbuildings. Edited August 6, 2020 by The Spy Who Loved Me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted August 6, 2020 Share Posted August 6, 2020 (edited) On 05/08/2020 at 17:14, davemclaren said: Technically a flat, according to the headline. 😄 Grrr, upper villa flat then. Still not mine. Edited August 6, 2020 by Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Sheldon Cooper Posted August 6, 2020 Share Posted August 6, 2020 I would say upper villa as well. It sounds like you live in a similar house to me, except we are the ground floor and we say lower villa. I would say a flat is the closest thing but no idea what our home insurance says. Theres something at the back of my mind that says we had the same issue though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted August 7, 2020 Share Posted August 7, 2020 9 hours ago, Dr. Sheldon Cooper said: I would say upper villa as well. It sounds like you live in a similar house to me, except we are the ground floor and we say lower villa. I would say a flat is the closest thing but no idea what our home insurance says. Theres something at the back of my mind that says we had the same issue though. I think flat is the closest from the options quoted by the OP. My grandparents used to live in one and I remember thinking, as a kid, how steep the stairs were. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted August 7, 2020 Share Posted August 7, 2020 9 hours ago, Alex said: Grrr, upper villa flat then. Still not mine. 🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted August 7, 2020 Author Share Posted August 7, 2020 Just thought, I have an additional bit of info that may alter it. We got the attic floored last year, so they're now used as two other rooms, so the house is split over 2 levels. I will also say we just have one of those space saver stairs going up to it so it's not technically 100% kosher, in as much as I can't sell the house as having extra rooms as they don't meet planning permission. But as I understand, I have to declare them being used for insurance. I'm thinking that while doing shit online might be a bit cheaper, maybe best to call one to make sure everything is spot on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXX Posted August 7, 2020 Share Posted August 7, 2020 17 minutes ago, Normthebarman said: Just thought, I have an additional bit of info that may alter it. We got the attic floored last year, so they're now used as two other rooms, so the house is split over 2 levels. I will also say we just have one of those space saver stairs going up to it so it's not technically 100% kosher, in as much as I can't sell the house as having extra rooms as they don't meet planning permission. But as I understand, I have to declare them being used for insurance. I'm thinking that while doing shit online might be a bit cheaper, maybe best to call one to make sure everything is spot on. You can contact the Fire Station safety officer to ask if there are special requirements to update your attic to latest fire safety standards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted August 7, 2020 Share Posted August 7, 2020 2 hours ago, Normthebarman said: Just thought, I have an additional bit of info that may alter it. We got the attic floored last year, so they're now used as two other rooms, so the house is split over 2 levels. I will also say we just have one of those space saver stairs going up to it so it's not technically 100% kosher, in as much as I can't sell the house as having extra rooms as they don't meet planning permission. But as I understand, I have to declare them being used for insurance. I'm thinking that while doing shit online might be a bit cheaper, maybe best to call one to make sure everything is spot on. In that case it might be a double upper maisonette upper villa flat. Then again it might not be. To be honest it seems like it'd be less hassle just to not bother with insurance....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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