1, 2 or 3 bedrooms?

[greenrook]

I think/hope this is the right place for this question. We live in a detached bungalow. When we bought it, it had 3 double bedrooms. It now has 1 double bedroom, and a bunged-up den housing my computer, desk, bookshelves, piano, static bike and rowing machine. Also my wife's personal sittingroom with her laptop, art paraphernalia etc. Her room becomes a guest bedroom as necessary, by means of the sofa-bed in there. We insure the place as a 3-bedroomed bungalow. My neighbour, similarly situated, says he designates his as 2 bedroomed and pays smaller premiums. Sounds alright, but if the place burns to the ground, would an insurer be obliged to rebuild a 2- or 3-bedroomed replacement? Or do they simply replace according to floor area? This question isn't as frivolous as it sounds, my insurances are due for renewal, and I can save money, it seems. Thanks for eading this far! -G-

[Androcles]

This may help:

http://www.moneysuper...-a-bedroom-26274.aspx

[WILLWONKER]

Sounds to me that you are trying to con your insurance company, would this not be classed as deception/fraud

[Pollypeptide]

From an insurance point of view you need to tell the Insurer what the property was originally built as - in your case a three bedroomed bungalow. If you give them incorrect information your could find yourself with a problem in the event of a claim - they could refuse your claim and cancel the policy ab initio (from the beginning) based on the fact that you provided them with the wrong info. Frankly the difference in premium would not be worth the possible problems you may face. I suggest you advise your neighbour accordingly.

[greenrook]

Who know what the property was originally built as, it was completed in 1936, and has been extended and remodelled. There is also a fourth room, once used as a nursery, now a lumber room, so should I regard my house as 4-bedroomed? I think not. I think you miss the point of the question, which is who decides? A large bungalow has any number of variations in its accomodations; who says which room should be called what? Chap at our local Planning office says 'it's your house, describe the rooms how you like'. By the way, fraud or deception entails an intention to defraud or deceive. However, thank you all for your interest - I'll be having a drink with my solicitor on Friday evening, I'll mention the matter to him

[buildersmate]

The rebuilding cost differences between a 2 versus 3 bedroomed property fall into the eminently trivial category.
In my experience insurance companies now ask for rebuilding costs and ask the homeowner to base it on a square meterage of floor area basis, since that is the cost-driver.