Tennant Liability Insurance?

mickburkejnr

Hi everyone,

I've recently moved in to a new flat with my girlfriend and we've settled in nicely. No TV or Internet as yet but hopefully that'll be fixed soon!

The main reason we don't have a proper TV is because we have no contents insurance, and I don't fancy paying for a £400 only to have it stolen and no way to replace it. The girlfriend isn't as fussed, but because I also have rare vinyl and computer games it's in my best interests to get contents insurance.

Anyway, for some reason Endsleigh insurance keep ringing up my girlfriend talking about insurance for the flat. I'm certain I never gave our letting agents permission to pass this information on, but it's done now. They have quoted my girlfriend £7.65 per month insurance. I bank with the Co-Operative, and I received a quote of £6.18 per month for what I thought was the same cover. I told the girlfriend we should go with the Co-Op but she wanted to speak to Endsleigh again before a decision was made.

Last night she spoke to them and they informed her that their insurance covers "Tennant Liability". I haven't heard of this, and it was explained to the girlfriend that the insurance covers any damage to the inside of the property (such as internal doors etc). I asked her to ask them if that was something that the Landlords Insurance covered, but they were adamant it wasn't. The Co-Op quote never mentioned anything about a Tennant Liability cover, so this left me a bit bemused.

Now I've been stung with a PPI misselling issue so I'm wary of extra cover being put on to insurance quotations, so I thought I'd ask you guys if you've ever heard of this and if it is something I should have or not.

Thanks!
Michael

tbs624

Have you paid a tenancy deposit? If yes, then you may view tenant liability insurance as an unnecessary addition to your costs. Is it a property with "high end" furnishings or fittings?

There will probably have been some very smalll print about the passing on of your info to Endsleigh and of course the LA will get a kickback for any cover that you take out.

If you/the OH do want to take out additional insurance for T liability then ring round for alternative costs. Endsleigh are of course not the only providers.Check too whether any insurance policies/premiums qualify for a personal payback to you/your OH via quidco etc

mickburkejnr

tbs624 wrote: »

Have you paid a tenancy deposit? If yes, then you may view tenant liability insurance as an unnecessary addition to your costs. Is it a property with "high end" furnishings or fittings?

There will probably have been some very smalll print about the passing on of your info to Endsleigh and of course the LA will get a kickback for any cover that you take out.

If you/the OH do want to take out additional insurance for T liability then ring round for alternative costs. Endsleigh are of course not the only providers.Check too whether any insurance policies/premiums qualify for a personal payback to you/your OH via quidco etc

Yes we paid about £1,000 deposit which has been placed in a deposit scheme. The property isn't what I would call high end, it's nice/cosy but it's definitely not kitted out with flash goods etc. It just struck me that while I know the deposit is there to cover damage to the flat wouldn't the land lord's insurance cover most of it anyway? (In terms of structural damage, flooding etc).

Well I haven't managed to speak to the Co-Op yet, but they were much cheaper than Endsleigh, and as the LA would get a kick back from Endsleigh they wouldn't really be top of my go to list anyway. I'll check out Quidco, I've never used these cashback sites before but I'll have a look!

laidbackgjr

Landlord's insurance will cover against things like structural damage, flooding, fire for the building and landlords fittings. However if for example the flood was a result of the tenant leaving the bath running, then this wouldn't be covered by the Landlord's insurance and you'd have to pay, either out of the deposit, by claiming on your insurance or paying to fix all the damages. If the deposit wasn't bigger enough to cover the cost of damages, the landlord could chase you for the full amount of the damage repairs.

newsgroup_monkey

My details were passed through because of the people my LA used for referencing.

I'm guessing that it's a cheap referencing service in return for getting my details (I had no choice - it said on the form that in return for giving my reference, I give them permission to quote me for "tenants insurance")

dimbo61

Take out contents insurance with who ever you want but PLEASE get some insurance as £8/10 a month is money well spent if you do suffer a break in or the flat gets flooded because you left the bath running.
The Landlord would be very stupid if he/she did not have buildings insurance and contents insurance to cover his/her property but they can not insure your goods !!!!!

mickburkejnr

Thank you everyone, I did think that the Landlords insurance would cover the structure and if there was a flood due to a burst main or something.

Very sneaky of Endsleigh to scaremonger the girlfriend regarding this though, especially as all we really need is contents. Many thanks people!

embob74

I had a HA property and was told specifically to get tenant's liability cover as should something occur which resulted in damage the landlord (HA) would be responsible for the building but I would have to pay for replacement kitchen and bathroom.
It was stated in my tenancy agreement though.

dacouch

Basic Tenants Liability Cover is provided free in most contents policies

tbs624

Worth bearing in mind that most T liability insurance tends to offer a limit of 2.5k of cover. If you have already coughed up a hefty tenancy deposit you may feel that you don't want to take out extra cover.