Man battled with insurers after garden wall fell in Bradford

Mr Stephens, 50, who owns the house above at 14 Middlerank in Bradford on Avon, contacted the Times saying he was still fighting the case with his insurers, Pen Underwriting, nine months on.

In total, six homes are affected by the collapse and Mr Stephens says he was the last one waiting to hear back. He said nine months on from the incident Pen Underwriting had yet to tell him if the home – occupied by family friend Pat Leo – is covered.

Since then, Pen Underwriting has confirmed it will be covering the costs.

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Earlier this week, Mr Stephens said: “We’ve got six houses not using their gardens we’re nine months in and I still haven’t had a discussion about whether I’m covered yet – not even a sniff.”

“I get the odd email from my loss adjuster saying they will chase the company next week.

“Isn’t there any aspiration from the insurance markets to have a duty of care on some level?”

Mr Stephens had sent in two complaints over his issues with the company and said Pen Underwriting, by hiring outside loss adjusters and underwriters, have far removed themselves from any responsibility.

Mr Stephens spent around nine months battle with Pen Underwriting for them to explain that he is covered after his garden wall collapsed late last year Photo Trevor Porter

The pandemic has had a massive impact on Mr Stephens and his family as he been forced to confront losing his business and changing careers.

He said that having a £60,000 or £70,000 bill hanging over his head has put a strain on him following an already incredibly difficult year.

“I don’t think these people in these businesses understand the depth of how they touch people by their relentless inefficiency,” he said.

Pat Leo, 86 who has lived in the house for 40 years, said for much of the pandemic she has not been able to get out into the garden as residents were told not to use them for their own safety.

“I love where I live and I have the most beautiful view,” she said. “But that’s all I’ve got, otherwise I’m locked in, basically.”

“My exercise is just along the rank and back, otherwise I can’t get out much.”

Pat Leo, 86, who lives at the Middlerank property has been confined to the house due to not being able to go out in her garden Photo: Trevor Porter

Pat said it has been taxing that she has not been able to get out in the garden meaning the recent heat wave has been difficult on her. Made all the more difficult as Pat is now largely confined to the house.

Since the wall collapsed only the loss adjuster has been out to look at the property.

Since contacting Pen Underwriting, Mr Stephens has said he received a phone call from a director of the Davies Group, their loss adjuster, to confirm he is covered.

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When contacted for this story, a spokesman for Pen Underwriting said: “We understand this has been a difficult time for Mr Stephens and apologise for the distress this has caused.

"Due to the number of properties affected by the collapse of the retaining wall and subsequent landslip, as well as the investigations needed to identify the cause, this claim has been more complex to progress and resolve.

“Safety is always our priority following an incident such as this, and stabilisation works were carried out to ensure the area was structurally safe.

“We are in contact with Mr Stephens to confirm we’ll be covering the costs, and are liaising with the other insurers and the loss adjuster to agree a schedule of works necessary to rebuild the wall and restore the property.

"All parties are committed to working together to resolve this situation as quickly as possible and we will be closely monitoring progress.”