Theft Contents Insurance

james_09

I have just informed my insurance company Direct Line that I will have foreign students staying for 6 weeks.
They have updated my details and inform me that whilst they stay I will not be covered for any Theft on my property or damage due to theft from anyone.
I queried this as I thought it was a bit excessive. They told me to refer to my terms and conditions, which I have done and can’t see any mention of this.
Anyone know if this is standard for most insurance policies?

The only part I can see relevent in my policy refers to theft by the students and that their possessions will not be covered which I accept.

Nelsonyouth

It seems quite common.

I've gone to the liberty of looking up the Direct Line Home Policy Wordings online. I think this is the most relevant part.

We will pay for loss of or damage to the contents while in your
home caused by the following:
8 Theft or attempted theft
But not
a) loss or damage by any paying guest or tenant

Hope this clears things up.

Badger_Lady

I use CIS and Nationwide for buildings and contents (can't remember which is which, sorry!). They're quite happy to continue full cover despite me having two full-time lodgers, it's only the lodgers' posessions that are excluded.

Each policy will vary!

bouncydog1

I think if you read your policy wording carefully that theft will be covered if it involves violent or focible entry to/exit from the premises.

So this means that if the lodgers run off with your possessions no cover will apply - in the same way that no cover would apply if you went out and left your house unlocked.

It is some time since I last reviewed a wording for household cover, so am, as always, happy to be corrected if I am wrong!

james_09

Thanks for your replies.

What the insurance company was saying to me was that I would not be covered for any theft full stop whilst I had students staying with me. I fully accept that if the students were to steal something then i would not be covered.

I actually ran through an example with direct line asking if the house was locked up during the day and there was a break in by a burglar would I be covered and they said no.

I still don't interpret the terms and conditions to mean that, but I have to admit I'm not an insurance expert. I may try and ring them again and speak to someone else.

Nelsonyouth

james_09 wrote: »

Thanks for your replies.

What the insurance company was saying to me was that I would not be covered for any theft full stop whilst I had students staying with me. I fully accept that if the students were to steal something then i would not be covered.

I actually ran through an example with direct line asking if the house was locked up during the day and there was a break in by a burglar would I be covered and they said no.

I still don't interpret the terms and conditions to mean that, but I have to admit I'm not an insurance expert. I may try and ring them again and speak to someone else.

This sounds wrong to me. As someone else said, usually it is covered if there is proof of forceable or violent entry/exit, it shouldn't make a difference if you have people staying with you.

dogbot

I suspect what they meant was that you should reffer to the policy where it says they can make changes to it! They have made an amendment following your mid-term disclosure of a material fact - the guests. They probably felt this was neccessary to protect themselves.

I do feel that it is harsh to exlude all theft however. Personaly, I would lodge a complaint with them that you feel the restriction is unreasonable. I would expect some restriction - theft only following forcible or violent entry or exit is the norm, plus the obvious exclusion of theft by anyone staying or living in the property (but that appears to be in the policy already from the above note).

How do you know these students? How many of them are there? Is there anyone else in the house? If they are family friends, you know them from before, your family is there, there are only 2 of them - then i can't see that the risk is huge and your complaint would have more traction.

Truth is that they can make the change if they wish - another example could be you tell them you are having an extention build so they might restrict cover to exlude accidental damage or storm. However, there is no harm in arguing with them, particularly in this case.