tenant accident damage insurance

joe298487

Hello,

I need a bit of advice and any help would be great.

We moved into a property 7 months ago and signed a contract, we received a letter from the letting agency to say we needed to get tenant accidental damage insurance and that this was stipulated in a section of our contract if we didn’t we would get a section 21 notice.

We were never told about this and stupidly we didn’t read the contract fully.

My question is are we screwed is it a case of we have to get it or is there a legal standpoint to get out of it?

thanks

HappyMJ

If you want to remain in the property looks like you have to get it.

You don't have to get it but as the letter says expect a section 21 notice.

I'd look at quotes with the highest excess possible. You might find you could get it for almost nothing when taking cash back into account.

Do read the fine print though...some policies will not cover the landlords possessions.

pinkshoes

Have they said WHY you need this?

Tenants insurance is pretty much the same as contents insurance e.g. it covers YOUR belongings that are not attached to the property, so if you have a fire, then you can make a claim.

The Landlord is the one that would then claim through his building insurance for everything else.

Have you rented it furnished or unfurnished?

joe298487

the house is unfurnished and this is the message i have just recieved from the agency

[You do not need to take out building and contents cover as the owner of the property would have this in place.

As the later states, you are required to take out insurance that covers you for accidental damage to landlords fixtures and fittings (whether you take out contents insurance for your own possessions is completely up to you). This type of insurance covers you for accidental damage to fixtures and fittings that would need rectifying right away should that become damaged through a tenants fault throughout your tenancy

theartfullodger

Thanks to Thatcher a Section 21 notice can be given for no reason at all: So a perfect tenant who always pays in full on time, complies with all - including daft - tenancy clauses can be evicted.

So you pay for & get the ruddy thing: And still get an S21...

If you Google OFT356 you will find OFT say such clauses are unfair & are probably unenforceable: But you agent had demonstrated he is a miasmic polecat on few morals..

I'd move

Nobbie1967

Write to the landlord at the address in your tenancy agreement and inform them that their agent is trying to foist an insurance policy upon you that is unnecessary as they already hold a deposit to cover damage. If they issue you with an S21 as threatened then they will probably be landed with a bill to draw up a new contract for the next tenant as well as having a void in the property since you would have no reason to allow access for viewings if you were being evicted. The landlord is probably not aware of this crap by the agent who is just seeking a commision on a policy.

G_M

Do you have a fixed term contract? How long? Even if you get a S21 Notice tomorrow, it cannot expire before the end of the fixed term.

Why not take out the insurance online? Send copy to agent. Then, if you don't actually want the insurance, use the 14 day cooling off period to cancel.

This insurance is a scam and I suspet the agent is wanting you to buy it via them? they get commission.