Buildings & Contents Insurance

[Explorer450]

My buildings and contents insurance is coming up for renewal

soon and I’m wondering whether anyone has used a UK based holiday home

insurance company?

 

I’m currently insured by Allianz France, I’ve never had a

problem with them but obviously all the policy documents I receive from them

are in French, and though my French is improving, I’m still not fluent so worry

I’ll miss something important!

 

I’ve been in touch with a couple of UK based insurance

companies who offer specialist holiday home insurance and the premiums I’ve

been quoted sound competitive enough, but am wondering if there are any downsides

to being insured by a smaller UK company I might not be thinking of?

 

Thanks

[Val_2]

Over the years OH had a lot of insurance damage callouts,usually from downed ceilings caused by burst pipes to stonework collapsing and usually these were holiday properties and not full time occupied. HOWEVER most of these brits were insured with UK companies and not one ever paid out because after we had submitted detailed devis for repairs/replacements these companies said as they could not send an assessor,they could not pay out just on a written estimate. End of the day, they were happy to take the money but would not pay out due to distance and owners non-resident! French insurance companies can be very competitive and will insure for what you tell them to insure for. Also UK insurers do not understand euro pricing either and all paperwork for properties in France regarding estimates must be in French in case of litigation!