Recommendations for home/building insurance when you have a lodger

katejo

I am approaching renewal time. I am currently with Direct Line and have used Aviva and Nationwide before. Several others won't allow a lodger at all. Has anyone any particular recommendations? I don't want to waste time completing quote forms and they tend not to answer this on their site.

G_M

I've never come across an insurer who won't allow a lodger.

What you often find is that telephone staff don't really understand 'tenant' Vs 'Excluded occupier', so unless you really spell out your enquiry, or you speak to a manager, or ask in writing (again clearly) you may be told 'no' simply because the staff know they don't cover lettings.

Most policies however will only cover burgalry if there's been a forced break-in ie if your lodger runs off with the TV you can't claim.

HappyMJ

katejo wrote: »

I am approaching renewal time. I am currently with Direct Line and have used Aviva and Nationwide before. Several others won't allow a lodger at all. Has anyone any particular recommendations? I don't want to waste time completing quote forms and they tend not to answer this on their site.

You'll need landlord cover.

That'll cover damage to the building itself.

Contents you are probably better off self insuring as you would need to prove the lodger was not the one who removed the goods and you might find that difficult. On the application you also have to declare any unspent convictions by any of the occupiers. How do you know for certain the lodger is telling the truth? They will most probably "lie or omit to tell the whole truth" to get the room and you aren't going to do a criminal records check so will never truly know. If they have a conviction your insurance may be invalid.

I would consider cover with a large excess that would cover you if the property was destroyed and you cover all the little things yourself.

katejo

G_M wrote: »

I've never come across an insurer who won't allow a lodger.

What you often find is that telephone staff don't really understand 'tenant' Vs 'Excluded occupier', so unless you really spell out your enquiry, or you speak to a manager, or ask in writing (again clearly) you may be told 'no' simply because the staff know they don't cover lettings.

Most policies however will only cover burgalry if there's been a forced break-in ie if your lodger runs off with the TV you can't claim.

Yes I know about the burglary exclusion. There has to be evidence of a break in. When i did previously ask about lodgers, I did make it clear that I was just renting a room out and that I was living in the same house.

G_M

katejo wrote: »

Yes I know about the burglary exclusion. There has to be evidence of a break in. When i did previously ask about lodgers, I did make it clear that I was just renting a room out and that I was living in the same house.

Yeah but they just don't get it.

They hear 'renting' and that's it.

You'll need landlord cover.

That'll cover damage to the building itself.

Contents you are probably better off self insuring

Happy - what do you mean?
1) 'landlords insurance' can be for building and/or contents
2) 'landlords insurance' is designed for tenancies, not lodgers
3) 'self insuring'???? as opposed to asking Auntie Ethel to insure? .....?