Letting Agency asking tenants to pay for Insurance covering Landlord's white goods?

isatbelonely

Hello,
We're in the process of applying for a new tenancy.
Only after we had paid the £200 application fee did the agency inform us that we would also be required to take out insurance for the property which covers accidental damage to the property of the landlord (white goods and carpets), as well as pay the deposit.
Most policies are for covering personal property of the tenant, and both myself and my partner feel it should be the Landlord's responsibility to cover their own property.
Can someone please tell me if this is normal, and how we can dispute this?
Despite the fact that it doesn't seem to be a legal requirement to take out contents insurance as a tenant, I can accept it could be a policy of a renter. However, it doesn't seem right that we should be taking out insurance to cover the landlord's property AND pay a deposit, especially when this policy was not communicated to us, and not available on the website prior to paying the application fee for us to make an informed decision with regards to this.
Any advice?
Thanks very much.

SerialRenter

You could always purchase a policy, show the letting agent the documentation and then cancel within the 14 day cooling off period.

I would personally make sure you have contents insurance anyway, i don't tend to go for accidental damage though.

You will however be responsible for accidental damage to the white good within the property during your tendency anyway, you break you buy (less fair wear & tear). So you might want to consider it anyway.

isatbelonely

Thanks for the advice. I've been renting privately for 10 years and have never been asked to take out a policy asking for accidental damage to the landlord's property. Does this not make your deposit redundant?

And as for wear and tear, how do you prove it's one or the other? Wear and tear should be the responsibility of the landlord, not the tenant.

aneary

I dropped an iron on the carpet. I had accidental damage I got the carpet replaced it cost me £100 excess. I think the accidental damage part of my contents insurance was £20 as opposed to just contents insurance. Not sure how it would have covered the white goods though as they were so old.

saajan_12

isatbelonely wrote: »

both myself and my partner feel it should be the Landlord's responsibility to cover their own property.
..
However, it doesn't seem right that we should be taking out insurance to cover the landlord's property AND pay a deposit

The fact that the LL owns the property is irrelevant, as you are responsible for ensuring its condition (atleast from accidental damage which is what such a policy would cover). If the white goods / furnishings etc were accidentally damaged, you would be liable for the cost so if you had such insurance, you get the payout and use that to pay your obligations to repair the damage. You would then get back your deposit so you're not losing out both ways.

Indeed, there is no legal requirement, its a matter of negotiation. You don't have to take out insurance, the LL doesn't have to let to you. The LL/agent's interest in the insurance could be if they're worried you won't have the funds to pay for damages exceeding the deposit, or if they are getting a back hander from the insurance co, or if they just feel like it.. ultimately its irrelevant. If you want the property enough, try to negotiate or pay the insurance premium. If not, look elsewhere.

As for the fees, what was agreed at the time? Typically the fees are paid for specific services eg referencing / contract drafting, or to reserve a property which would be let to you if you pass checks and subject to contract. You could have asked to see a draft contract before paying the fee, but now cannot get the fees back because you don't agree to the contract terms.

G_M

If you don't agree, the contract won't be offered tto you.

Has the agent offered to arrange the policy? Commission!

If you don't want such a policy, find one that does not charge a cancellation fee (check small print), take it out, show agent, get tenancy signed, cancel policy within 14 days.

Cakeguts

isatbelonely wrote: »

Hello,
We're in the process of applying for a new tenancy.
Only after we had paid the £200 application fee did the agency inform us that we would also be required to take out insurance for the property which covers accidental damage to the property of the landlord (white goods and carpets), as well as pay the deposit.
Most policies are for covering personal property of the tenant, and both myself and my partner feel it should be the Landlord's responsibility to cover their own property.
Can someone please tell me if this is normal, and how we can dispute this?
Despite the fact that it doesn't seem to be a legal requirement to take out contents insurance as a tenant, I can accept it could be a policy of a renter. However, it doesn't seem right that we should be taking out insurance to cover the landlord's property AND pay a deposit, especially when this policy was not communicated to us, and not available on the website prior to paying the application fee for us to make an informed decision with regards to this.
Any advice?
Thanks very much.

You are sure that they didn't tell you that you had to have contents insurance? I could understand if they told you that you had to get contents insurance that also covered the landlord's white goods and carpets. This I can understand because it would mean that you were insured if you had an accident with anything belonging to the landlord as well as anything belonging to you.

Contents insurance would be sensible anyway.