Contents insurance in rented house

timberflake

Hi guys, just came home to a letter from our letting agent asking for a copy of our contents insurance certificate to confirm that we have insurance in place. The letter was worded in such a way as to make out they could help us out if we ever needed to make a claim.

We've been here almost two years so this is a little out of the blue, my question is, do we have to give them a copy? Can we refuse?

I'm an insurance broker by trade so certainly dont need help making a claim should I need to!

G_M

Ignore.

Lots of companies/organisations send marketing literature to encourage you to buy products they want to sell.... but which you may not want to buy.

This is just one of those.

If you want contents insurance, shop around and buy it.

Old_Git

write back and tell them you are an insurance broker and if they need and help with insurance you can help them .

Callie22

They're probably getting some sort of commission from whichever company they 'recommended' that you use in case you don't have insurance. When we moved into our property, we were getting daily calls from Homelet trying to flog us their overpriced 'special tenant's insurance'. It's another way for the agencies to make money, like when they tell you that you MUST sign up with companies like Spark Energy for your utilities.

timberflake

We got the call from Homelet when we first signed up and I told them at the time that I'm a broker.

The letter isnt trying to sell us insurance, it's saying they want a copy of our certificate of insurance so they have it on record that we have contents insurance. They then go on to say that they can help us if we need to make a claim etc.

All I really want to know is whether this is something I have to give them or am I within my rights to refuse? I have a feeling I'm well within my rights to refuse their requerst I'd just like some confirmation.

princeofpounds

You do not have to give it to them.

Ultimately there is probably a sales pitch behind this sooner or later.

chris_m

timberflake wrote: »

The letter isnt trying to sell us insurance, it's saying they want a copy of our certificate of insurance so they have it on record that we have contents insurance.

None of their business - either ignore it or tell them to take a hike.

Soniclord

timberflake wrote: »

The letter isnt trying to sell us insurance, it's saying they want a copy of our certificate of insurance so they have it on record that we have contents insurance.

All I really want to know is whether this is something I have to give them or am I within my rights to refuse? I have a feeling I'm well within my rights to refuse their requerst I'd just like some confirmation.

What I did when I was renting from an agency that requested a copy of my contents insurance certificate was tell them I wasn't comfortable letting them take a 'copy' of it as it has personal information on it such as policy numbers etc and I wasn't comfortable with them having a copy, mainly down to the fact when we paid money to them for a deposit they gave us someone elses receipt and documentation with a partial credit card number on it :eek: I know it was useless to me but that wasn't the point, they'd given me someone elses receipt with their address on it etc..

Anyway I said the best I could do was let them 'see the certificate' then I simply didn't go into the office, they knew I had insurance as I told them, that's all they need to know as far as i'm concerned.

I mean they've told you they want a copy as proof you have contents insurance, so tell them you would be willing to let them see it as I did, then also ask them (preferably beforehand) that you want to see the landlords buildings insurance certificate so you know 'he' has it :T

As for you wanting to know if you have to give it to them, the answer is most definitely NO, and you are well within your rights to refuse.

Cheers.

tbs624

As the other have said, just ignore it. If they push on the issue, just tell them that your insurance cover is fine and should you require their help you'll let them know.