Can letting agents force me to get AD cover?

PasturesNew

I voluntarily took out AD to LL's stuff - but this place is furnished. I had the add on to the Endsleigh Tenants' policy.

Catatonia

Thanks all. As far as I'm aware, when you cancel under the 14 day cooling off period they can't charge an admin fee, as they have to restore you to the state you'd have been in if the contract had never existed (cancelling under the 14 day thing is very different to cancelling part way through the term). I will double check though.

Gwhiz, it might have been cheaper than your existing insurance, but I bet it would have been even cheaper still without the AD cover.

Gwhiz

Catatonia wrote: »

Thanks all. As far as I'm aware, when you cancel under the 14 day cooling off period they can't charge an admin fee, as they have to restore you to the state you'd have been in if the contract had never existed (cancelling under the 14 day thing is very different to cancelling part way through the term). I will double check though.

Gwhiz, it might have been cheaper than your existing insurance, but I bet it would have been even cheaper still without the AD cover.

TBH - it's so cheap I can't see how it could be

rsykes2000

Gwhiz wrote: »

TBH - it's so cheap I can't see how it could be

If you have a bare minimum of contents, Homelet can be cheap. If you have a reasonable amount of 'stuff' then it certainly isn't. A quote for 50K of contents cover (which is certainly not unreasonable in a rented unfurnished house) is well more than double what I currently pay with HSBC contents insurance.

Gwhiz

rsykes2000 wrote: »

If you have a bare minimum of contents, Homelet can be cheap. If you have a reasonable amount of 'stuff' then it certainly isn't. A quote for 50K of contents cover (which is certainly not unreasonable in a rented unfurnished house) is well more than double what I currently pay with HSBC contents insurance.

I'm living light

parallax_20

Catatonia - Based on the clauses you've stated in your original post which looks to be fairly standard. You are only responsibly for insuring your own items and not the items belonging to the landlord. Although you can probably claim his items under your contents insurance if damage was done.

The EA cannot force to you take out AD cover as it does not state this in the clauses. But you do need to understand that any damaged caused to the property will be billed/deducted from your deposit to cover the costs, if it can be proven you did it. The LL is responsible for the maintenance/replacement of white goods and any items that naturally fail due to fair wear and tear usage, as this is included as part of the rental agreement for the term duration.

NEH

You don't have to take out agents cover as stated above but I would recommend taking out accidental cover, we did as the place is the normal wall to wall beige standard carpenting and one glass accidentally going on the floor your deposit will be used to pay for the damage....plus all the other things that can happen to carpets, curtains etc.... I took it out for peace of mind as I don't intend giving up drinking all coloured liquids whilst i'm renting here....

GDB2222

http://www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_resources/resource_base/legal/unfair-terms/guidance#named1

This is a link where you can download the OFT guidance on unfair terms. You need both the main note and the annexe.

GDB2222

Oh, BTW, if you take the agent's insurance offer they will make commission on it. (That is obviously the purpose of this insurance requirement.) If you then cancel it, that will really annoy them.

Colincbayley

Do check the full policy wording of any insurance policy. I have been out of the insurance business for a few years now, however, a standard new for old contents policy USED to cover liability to a tenant for damaged caused to LL's property ( I.e AD cover to fixed glass )

The agent is just after the commission.