Home Insurance Forum

Sep. 8, 2007

Can I file a claim against the insurance company of the previous owners of my house? If so, how do I find out who the insurance company was?

Skip, Minnesota

Dear Skip,

I spoke with Nancy Link, the supervisor for the enforcement division of the Minnesota Division of Insurance, and she says you can't file a claim against the previous owner's insurance company because you weren't the insured party — in other words, there wasn't a contract between you and the insurance company.

However, you can ask the previous owners to file a claim for you. But just because you ask them to file a claim doesn't mean that they will. It is solely up to their discretion.

Link points out that storm damage is generally the only type of claim where such a claim is feasible. She says other claims would likely be considered "wear and tear" and/or part of the condition of the house when you bought it.

If the owners decide not to file a claim, or the damage resulted from something other than a storm, Link says that you can consider taking your repair matter to court.

Here's more on How to file a claim.

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