So we live next door to a property that is being developed into two houses. There’s a wooden fence all along the property line that we own.

During the construction, the fence was broken in multiple places. It’s now unfixable. (It’s far worse than the photos show.) The property owner claimed the damage on his insurance, and after submitting the required estimates for replacement, we have received a response. Because we bought the house 6 years ago and do not have a date or proof of installation for the fence, the insurance will only pay us 2000chf. The cheapest quote we got was 5500chf. So we are just expected to cover the 3500chf ourselves I guess? (They also caused other damage to our property which we have reported to the insurance company. We have no proof of purchase for any of those items either so I’m not hopeful.)

I’m guessing this is standard policy and I’ve been in this country long enough to know that I can’t argue with the insurance company. But it seems crazy. Is there anything that we can do? Will our own insurance cover it? Also, is it normal or required to save receipts for everything including something like a fence? Many thanks!

by Brief-Philosophy-179

20 comments

  1. Would seems to make sense.

    A wooden fence would only last so long anyway. The insurance would only cover the remaining value and not the value to restore it to a brand new state.

  3. 5500.- for this wooden fence ? Why not repair it yourself for a couple hundred

  4. The neighbor is liable. His insurance isn’t your business.

  5. Yes, a new fence costs more than the current value of the existing fence. But until Eigenmietwert will cease to exist in 2028, you can deduct the costs of the new fence fully from your income tax as maintenance costs. Actually not a bad situation for you. Ask the insurance for 3k and you will have a new fence practically for free.

  6. What planet do we live on where a fence like this is 5k lol

  7. It’s between you and your neighbor. Even if their insurance only pays part, it’s still your neighbor’s responsibility. The question is, do you want to potentially spoil your relationship with your neighbor by trying to get them to pay the full cost?

  8. Dude, just go to Jumbo with 50 CHF, buy some pieces of wood, and in like 30 minutes you have it as new. You can also stop by the grocery store and with the rest of the 50 CHF you buy a beer and some chips to admire your repaired fence. You will spend less time and less stress than claiming a ducking insurance company. 

  9. That’s the kind of case in which legal insurance is useful.

    The insurance covers your neighbor, not you. Your neighbor is liable for the damage.

    Also keep in mind that the neighbor is probably not liable for the total cost, because it’s not new. Similarly when a tenant breaks something in an apartment, he’s usually not liable for the full amount.

    The insurance amount seems quite good, given the usual lifetime of a wooden fence:
    https://www.angi.com/articles/how-long-does-wood-fencing-last.htm

  11. First of all over 5k for this fence is a total scam. 2nd if your neighbour damaged your property he’s liable not you and whether he’s insured or not doesn’t make any difference.

  12. His problem but 5.5k???? Just put it back in place and then invest a couple of hundreds and to it yourself with the 2k. It does look very old.

  13. 2000 chf for few old wooden sticks? Nice!

    Take one that’s not broken, go to the mill and order 100, I guess 2chf/piece, few screws, some wood impregnate, one afternoon, and you are can go on holidays with the remaining amount xD

  14. Your neighbors insurance is not on your side. Don’t trust them.

    Your neighbor is liable for any damage to your property. If their insurance refuses to pay, they don’t stop being liable.

    Tell your neighbor that you expect them to repair the damage or pay the difference.

  15. Pretty sure you can press charges against your neighbour, meaning they will have to cover the difference.

  16. 5.5k sounds very overpriced.

    Besides that, your neighbour is liable for the repairs. It is his problem to finance the repairs (via insurance or his funds). If his insurance covers 1k , 2k, 5k, 20k etc. it doesnt really matter for you, you are owed a repaired fence.

  17. The contractor is going to replace that cheap looking wood with agarwood i bet hence the 5500chf quotation. /s

    I guess you have no other choice but to shoulder the rest or if you can probably DIY.

  18. They are liable for the damage to your fence. Whether they have insurance or what kind of insurance they have, doesn’t matter to you.

  19. Yout neighbour should have a Bauherren-Insurance (maître de construction) for such a case. The neighbour is liable and has to pay the rest to you. But maybe the neighbours’ construction company is also liable and has to refund your neighbour. Don’t you have a legal insurance that could help you?

  20. I’ve asked for fence quotation for our property, CHF 5500 is indeed a price a gardener could charge. We were quoted CHF 10,000 for a 180cm high basic metal fence, 20 meters long.

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