Contents only cover and also property left for 56 days this winter.

Susan1942

I only need contents insurance as I live in a Leasehold and the buildings insurance is on a Master Policy which I pay annually to the Manageing Agents.
Should I look to move? This winter I am going to be away for 56 days on a trip to Australia and a lot of policies will not cover you if the place is empty.
I live in a retirement apartment mine is on the 3rd floor accessed by either the stairs and door or by private lift.
We have a video entry system and also have a manager on site every morning Mon - Friday for 4 hours.
I don't live in the main building but rather in a smaller building housing 6 2 bedroomed apartments with mine being 3 bedroomed on the top floor.

I keep getting phone calls from other companies offering me a quote. Currently I am paying £166 for £50'000 cover with all risk for £3000 and the policy covers accidental damage. I have had one claim about 4 years ago for damage to carpet costing £890.
I did a search on Go compare but it came up with only 4 prices all cheaper then the current one but the rest would not quote because of the 56 day issue. Advice would be appreciated.

Sue

*Scarlett

Hi Sue

Some companies will offer cover for up to 60 consecutive days unoccupancy as standard.

You say you live in a retirement apartment so presumably you are retired. Have you tried RIAS or SAGA (just 2 I can think of - I'm sure there are others). They both offer 60 days unoccupancy. They may not be on the comparison websites but are tailored for over 50's. If you're not over 50 they will still quote for you.

Hope this helps.

Susan1942

Thanks Scarlett

Yes I am over the dreaded 60!! so looking for the best price and cover I can get. I will look at the sites you have suggested. Still to receive quote from my current provider and I believe they hang back hoping I may not have the time to look for a new provider.
I am not away every year for this long but just going to Australia for 8 weeks this winter.

Thanks again.

Sue

Susan1942

Thanks for the advice. Yesterday I did a comparison with RIAS on line and this morning got a phone call. Have accepted a quote from them which is offering me the more or less exactly the same cover as I already have.
Actually I was paying £173 annually and now I am have paid £90.20p annually. I opted to pay the total cover for 1 year.
The girl first quoted £92 and I then added legal cover and this increased the premium to £113. However she kept asking someone and she said as a new customer and going on line they could give me a further discount to £92 94 and then later reduced it to the above figure.
I have not got my quote for LLoyds as yet but it will at least be what I am paying or more. Yes as Martin says I could try to bargain with them but this was easy and I am happy with the result.

Sue

*Scarlett

I'm sure you wil be able to find a better price, especially if you have been with your current company for a number of years.

Another one I have thought of is Castlecover which specialises in over 50s and appears to offer cover for unoccupancy of 60 consecutive days.

My advice would be to get quotes from any insurers that suit your needs. If you like any of the offers, give them a ring, clarify any questions about the cover and always ask for a discount if you are prepared to do business with them on the day. They will usually honour any on-line discount and might even give you an extra £10 / £20 off if you take the policy straightaway. (maybe not, but it doesn't do any harm to ask!) It's a competitive industry and they will want your business.

Although you haven't received a renewal price from your current company - do you think this is likely to go down? If not, just go for the best price policy that meets your requirements.

If you decide to go with another insurer, make sure you lapse your current policy if you have an auto-renewal set up.

Susan1942

I am pretty happy with the premium quoted by RIAS. I have never paid as little as this in fact this price beats anything I have ever had by a long way.
I have £50,000 cover with extended accidental cover. All risk cover which covers me for items away from home. Also legal cover so it is not just a bare bones policy. I think I could have had that for much less. But to go from paying £170+ to £90 for me is great!

Looking now for a hotel and a train ticket to Glasgow as a friends Husband and I will go up for the funeral.
Scarlett
Thanks a million!!

Sue

*Scarlett

Sue , so glad you found a policy to suit you and made a good saving.

RIAS seems to be a good company to deal with (from on-line info).

Susan1942

Thanks for your response. Today I called LLoyds and cancelled my policy. She was very keen to find out how much I had paid. She told me that they dealt with other insurers other than Zurich and put me on to someone who could perhaps quote for me.
While my Zurich Policy covered me for 60 days there was nothing that they could offer me for that 60 days and so was unable even to quote for it.
I am happy with my policy and thank you once again for your advice.

Sue

Susan1942

I received the new insurance policy details from RIAS home contents. A couple of questions I need to clarify as I am not sure exactly that I have all the cover I need/
I have cancelled my LLoyds renewal quote and it has risen considerably. I was shocked to note that they have charged £39.11p for Business clerical Use Covering business money Stock/Trades and Business contents!
Also Cycle cover even though I am a pensioner without a cycle and I live in a flat! another £29.34p

I don't really know what this means but high risk items £16,500 with a single item worth £3000. I don't need this in my opinion but would welcome views. I don't think I own any one item anywhere near this amount.
The new policy with RIAS has only one element missing and this is where I would receive payment if I had to be out of my home in the event of an emergency. Would my building insurance policy cover this or should it be on the contents.
I live in a Lease hold flat and the building insurance is on a master policy for which pay an annual fee directly to the Manageing agents. I have paid RIAS £90.30 and paid Lloyds last year £173 but this year this would be £266 25p an increase from £14.15 to £22.18.

Seems crazy to me and now makes me think have I been paying this over the 5-6 years I have been with LLoyds.

Sue