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Home and Contents separate ???

I own a flat that I need to insure.
My son is living there at the moment so I have been advised that I will have to take out building insurance in my name because I own it and he will have to take out contents insurance as they are his.Is there a way I can take out one policy for building and contents and be properly covered?I have yet to investigate separate policies so have no idea of the price difference in the two options.

Thanks
cslogg
«1

Comments

  • lisyloo
    lisyloo Posts: 29,882 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    If it's furnished then part of the contents are yours.
    So for example, carpets, curtains, furniture, appliances are your.
    Clothes etc. are his.

    Is he just living their temporarily or is it more permanent?
  • cslogg
    cslogg Posts: 342 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    He will be there for about a year.
    You are right,bed,washing machine etc are mine but he has some personal stuff,books,pc etc.
    I have been through ther process of getting home and contents quotes on the net under my name but when you get a quote there is then a list of conditions.The top one says something like,"the quote is for your main residence"Thats when I do not go any further as its my sons main home and not mine.I would not like to incorrectly fill in the application only to find at a later date when I may have to make a claim that it is refused because I fibbed on the application in the first place.

    cslogg
  • lisyloo
    lisyloo Posts: 29,882 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Yes you are quite right.
    If you don't answer the questions correctly then a claim could be turned down.

    Unfortunately computer interfaces can only cope with a finite set of possibilities.

    So you will either need to ring the comapny concerned.
    If you don't want to do the legwork, you might be better off using a broker.
  • Quentin
    Quentin Posts: 40,405 Forumite
    cslogg wrote: »
    Is there a way I can take out one policy for building and contents and be properly covered?

    You need a Landlord's policy. You will be able to get a combined buildings/contents policy.

    Your son will need to take out separate insurance to cover his own contents - unless it can be covered as an extension to your own home contents policy (eg. if he is a student and living in the rented accomodation whilst studying)
  • cogito
    cogito Posts: 4,898 Forumite
    You need a Landlord's policy.

    But it's a flat so presumably it's in a building with other flats and possibly commercial premises. You can't just insure one part of such a building. Is there a management company which could insure the whole building for the benefit of joint owners?
  • cslogg
    cslogg Posts: 342 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Blimey,this is getting complicated.
    I am his landlord but he pays no rent.
    There are six flats in his building with no commercial premises.
    Is a Landlords policy more expensive than a normal one?
    Anyone recommend a company that does this.
    There is no chance of getting the other tenants to do a combined bulidings policy thats why I am looking to get buildings cover myself.I asume if my son causes ther building to fall down then I will be covered?

    cslogg
  • Is the buildings insurance not paid for within the service charge for the flat?
  • Quentin
    Quentin Posts: 40,405 Forumite
    Isn't there any buildings insurance tied in with the ground rent? You need to investigate this, as should your flat be damaged/burnt etc by an incident occurring in a neighbouring flat you will be responsible for your own damage unless you can prove negligence by the other resident.
  • cslogg
    cslogg Posts: 342 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Is the buildings insurance not paid for within the service charge for the flat?

    There is no service charge for the flat,or if there is we have never beeen asked to pay one.
    We own the flat.
    Its in Scotland if that makes any difference.


    cslogg
  • cogito
    cogito Posts: 4,898 Forumite
    The tenants can't insure the building as it is not theirs to insure. It's up to the owners to get together to arrange cover. Most insurance companies offer a suitable policy and it doesn't cost any more than a standard household buildings policy as long as it's not a student let or DSS referral.
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