Insurance Policy To Cover Legal Costs In Neighbour Disputes

[W Sussex Sue]

My son is having neighbour disputes. It is at the stage of him making a counter claim. It is costing him thousands of pounds. He has now found out that his home insurance does cover this, but the insurance company say that because he has engaged solicitors already, they will not pay. Is this correct? Is there anything he can do to recover part of his costs from the insurance company?

[factor-fiction]

The insurers may require you to use solicitors appointed by them

[FredPuli43]

There will be conditions attached to the insurance. It's certain that these include a requirement along the lines of the insured must notify the insurer of any claim as soon as the insured knows of it and that all ensuing litigation and negotiation be taken over by the insurer i.e. that they have control of it, which makes sense as they are paying. Your son won't have complied with either condition and therefore the insurer may refuse to pay the past costs or, indeed, to act at all.

[boxtops]

Most insurance companies won't take on matters which are already in train - you have to do it their way in order to benefit from the cover they provide.

How come he didn't realise that he already has legal cover?