[Solved] Occupiers' liability insurance as a tenant

Hanfox

EDIT:: I've now sorted this out you can see that in post #9 below. Please no more replies. Some of you are even posting misinformation.

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Original post below

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I am currently attempting to move in to a new rented property and the letting agency has laid out the basics of what is required (deposit, their fees, etc.), but they've also stated:

It is a condition of the Tenancy that you take out occupier's liability insurance with minimum cover of £1,000,000 and also tenant's liability insurance.

Whilst I understand the latter is basically to cover damage/theft/etc. to the landlord's items (furniture if it were furnished, fittings, etc.) I am struggling with the "occupier's liability insurance" as it seems more like it's for the business side of things (i.e. for the landlord).

The occupier's liability insurance seemingly is very similar to public liability in case of "visitors" hurting themselves on the property due to negligence of the "occupier". The wording of the "Occupier's Liability Act 1957" is very fuzzy to me. It seems to have issues defining the occupier correctly in terms of landlord or tenant.

The agent has recommended to speak to an insurance broker (which I will do regardless), but the ones they have recommended aren't open at the time of writing and I'd like to try and get my head around it all before they are on Monday.

I'm basically asking for a layman's explanation of "occupier's liability insurance", if it'll definitely be necessary as a tenant, a ballpark figure for the cost per year and, I guess, if this is normal practice?

antrobus

Hanfox wrote: »

...I'm basically asking for a layman's explanation of "occupier's liability insurance", if it'll definitely be necessary as a tenant, a ballpark figure for the cost per year and, I guess, if this is normal practice?

Occupier's liability insurance is the same as public liability insurance. You will find that most contents insurance policies for tenants include cover for public liability.

Tenant's liability insurance is cover for damage caused to the landlord's fixtures etc. Again, that is often bundled in with contents.

What you need is a contents insurance policy for a tenant that includes these 'add-ons'.

[Deleted User]

Can't help with all of your questions but it looks like a tenants contents insurance.., but the LL's stuff is insured.

I googled 'what is tenants Liability cover' surprisingly enough lol

https://www.endsleigh.co.uk/personal/home-insurance/home-and-contents/guide/what-is-tenants-liability-cover/

Hanfox

antrobus wrote: »

Occupier's liability insurance is the same as public liability insurance. You will find that most contents insurance policies for tenants include cover for public liability.

Tenant's liability insurance is cover for damage caused to the landlord's fixtures etc. Again, that is often bundled in with contents.

What you need is a contents insurance policy for a tenant that includes these 'add-ons'.

Okay, thanks. I figured as much, but I guess the trick is finding the ones that are actually that inclusive. You'd think it'd be simple, but few seem to categorically state it whilst looking online.

I guess I'm stuck waiting for Monday and to contacting some firms directly and getting some quotes with the adviser stating exactly what it includes.

Cakeguts

Hanfox wrote: »

I am currently attempting to move in to a new rented property and the letting agency has laid out the basics of what is required (deposit, their fees, etc.), but they've also stated:


Whilst I understand the latter is basically to cover damage/theft/etc. to the landlord's items (furniture if it were furnished, fittings, etc.) I am struggling with the "occupier's liability insurance" as it seems more like it's for the business side of things (i.e. for the landlord).

The occupier's liability insurance seemingly is very similar to public liability in case of "visitors" hurting themselves on the property due to negligence of the "occupier". The wording of the "Occupier's Liability Act 1957" is very fuzzy to me. It seems to have issues defining the occupier correctly in terms of landlord or tenant.

The agent has recommended to speak to an insurance broker (which I will do regardless), but the ones they have recommended aren't open at the time of writing and I'd like to try and get my head around it all before they are on Monday.

I'm basically asking for a layman's explanation of "occupier's liability insurance", if it'll definitely be necessary as a tenant, a ballpark figure for the cost per year and, I guess, if this is normal practice?

I am pretty sure that it is the landlord's insurance that cover public liability not the tenant.

Hanfox

Cakeguts wrote: »

I am pretty sure that it is the landlord's insurance that cover public liability not the tenant.

This was the original thought I had, too, and maybe a broker will say as much.

But if you search around you'll see a few bits here and there that state (in relation to the Act) that the "occupier" is the one liable and the landlord is only considered the "occupier" when they have to maintain a public space (such as a public stairwell).

It's hard to find a definitive answer (and as I've said I've not seen any tenant insurers state it online). Maybe it's a little loophole some agents are using to make them seem like a better choice to landlords?

Cakeguts

Hanfox wrote: »

This was the original thought I had, too, and maybe a broker will say as much.

But if you search around you'll see a few bits here and there that state (in relation to the Act) that the "occupier" is the one liable and the landlord is only considered the "occupier" when they have to maintain a public space (such as a public stairwell).

It's hard to find a definitive answer (and as I've said I've not seen any tenant insurers state it online). Maybe it's a little loophole some agents are using to make them seem like a better choice to landlords?

To be fair we only let houses but we have public liability insurance up to I think much more than £1million as part of the landlord's insurance.

theartfullodger

1. Take out such cover ON-LINE. Provide proof to agency.
2. Move in.
3. Cancel policy as you can within 14(?) days having taken it out online.

Cheeky agent!

Artful (Landlord....)

Hanfox

So I kept looking over insurance policies and reading all their PDFs about what they cover and how much £s and I can confirm antrobus is generally right: most Contents Insurance covers Tenants and Occupiers Liability.

If anyone else panics like I did due to terrible wording from their agent I hope they stumble over this thread and take a second to look about through all the info.

From my research I'm pretty confident Homelet (Homelet just calls it Personal and Public Liability instead of Occupiers Liability though), Aviva, John Lewis and Zurich offer both of what I need in the same policy (there are obviously other companies -- I'm not recommending these specifically!)

I couldn't confirm Admiral because their website is shockingly poor at actually describing specifically what they cover.

I just wish the letting agent had been more clear and more helpful when stating what cover is required. £1,000,000 cover is scary to see when there's no clear description.

Thanks for the replies.

dacouch

Yu will find most Insurance policies will use the name "Personal Liablity" rather than "occupiers liability"

ashburnham

In terms of a title, "occupier's liability insurance" is the same as "tenant's liability insurance" ... the tenant is the occupier after all! Any insurer offering a tenant's contents policy should include a section of cover with one of these titles.

Under said section, cover should be similar between different insurers but you will have to compare each one to know exactly what you are (and are not) getting. I've never seen both titles used as separate sections in the same policy but I have seen some that don't offer any cover at all so be careful.

I think I would query why your letting agency is asking for these two types of cover when it seems they are the same thing.