Insurance in rented apartment - help please!

timberflake

My girlfriend and I are moving into an apartment at the end of the month and are looking at taking out contents insurance. However, a lot of websites ask questions like "what is the roof made out of" and "what kind of locks are on your doors".

Do they really need to know what the roof in constructed of when I live on the 2nd floor of a 3 floor block?

And how do I find out what kind of locks my doors have???

Would appreciate any help!

dogbot

Yes you do need to know.

Locks - ask the landlord, EA or current tenants? Ask if you can nip round to check?

Open the front door to the flat and look what it says on the lock, mortice deadlocks will have the kyte mark stamped on it for the standard they comply to. If you are really not sure, just google image search the terms you see on the quotation pages.

Remember, if you say you have them and accept a discount that is applied, you will be expected to use them and a claim for theft won't be valid if they weren't used (e.g. you go out and just leave the door locked on the yale type lock).

timberflake

Thanks for the response, I'll check that out. what about the roof type, is that something I really need to know??

Finally, my windows have locks but I don't have keys so should I say that my wondows dont have locks?

olly300

timberflake wrote: »

Thanks for the response, I'll check that out. what about the roof type, is that something I really need to know??

It's not actually very hard.

All they want to know is if the roof and walls are made from unusual building materials.

Either go outside, have a look and guess i.e. a roof tile looks like a roof tile - or ask a neighbour or friend to tell you.

Gavin83 wrote: »

Finally, my windows have locks but I don't have keys so should I say that my wondows dont have locks?

Ask the landlord for the keys.

If s/he refuses to give them to you and they are not locked then put down you don't have locks. Expect your insurance premium to increase or have wording to the effect that you are not insured if the burglar gains entry via the windows.

dacouch

If s/he refuses to give them to you and they are not locked then put down you don't have locks. Expect your insurance premium to increase or have wording to the effect that you are not insured if the burglar gains entry via the windows.

This is slightly miss leading, the Insurers would only refuse a theft claim if the entry was through the windows if they had made window locks a requirement of the policy due to your post code eg London or you have high value contents. If you elect for a security discount then they will either not pay the claim or impose a higher excess.

They do not say "you are not insured" just because you do not have window locks unless as explained above.

P.S Before commiting yourself for a security discount run the quote through without the locks as the discount is normally circa 5% so on an average premium will save you around £6 a year. Personally I would pay the extra £6 so you do not have the terms applied to your Insurance

FH_Brit

Home insurance not really my field but on the roof subject, look at it this way Timber - If the roof comes down it may bring the third floor into your second floor or if it fails in a storm the water will flow thrught upstairs and could damage your stuff - See there is a risk when you look at it this way and that's why your IC want's to know so they can assess their risk.