Insurance woes follow demolition

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7913611.stm

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A family who woke to find a bulldozer knocking down an adjoining property in Newcastle have been told their insurance will not cover any damage.

The terrace property in a protected row in the County Down town was demolished by a developer last month.

Caroline Richman said her family's house which is next door was only covered for accidental damage.

The British Insurance Brokers Association said the Richmans should be able to claim against the developer.

"The family obviously need accommodation and they don't want further damage to happen from the elements to their property," Graeme Trudgill of BIBA said.

"Things do need to happen quickly and I would hope that the insurance company could look on the legal expenses side at least to see what they can do to pursue the builder in these circumstances."

Mrs Richman explained the situation regarding any potential insurance claim.

"If the house next door to us was accidentally demolished, any damage would be covered by the insurance company," she said.

"But because it was deliberate, we were advised that if there was any structural damage, we would have to rectify the situation at our own cost, otherwise our insurance would actually be void," she said.