Tenancy agreement - landlord requiring accidental damage insurance

Outlaw91

Hello MSE-ers,

I am reviewing a tenancy agreement and the landlord has specifically requested a clause requiring us as tenants to take out accidental damage insurance for the landlords fixtures & fittings.

My understanding of tenants insurance would be - very advisable to get contents insurance but landlord should have insurance for their fixtures and fittings and any damage that we as tenants don't repair would be covered by the deposit?? Are they being unreasonable or am I missing something here - just feels a little odd!?

If people have taken this insurance how does it actually work in practice - if I fall through the shower, smash the shower screen, can I actually claim as that "fixture" is not actually mine...? Similar let's say I drop the iron onto the landlords sofa - it is not my sofa so how can I be insured on a content that isn't mine (and which the landlord will also be insured on!!).

Thoughts??:mad:

O

Carrot007

Indeed, they should insure it as it is their insurance asset. You would probably be denied a claim under most insurances.

No reason they would not pass the cost of this onto you though.

So probably a idiot that does not know how to do things right. Shoudl avoid as who knows what else they will get wrong.

aneary

I did drop an iron but on a carpet. I had contents insurance I claimed and got the carpet replaced the accidental part of my insurance was an extra £25 and the excess was £100 so paying the extra worked for me.

Pixie5740

Is this as well as or instead of a deposit? Is it the landlord suggesting this or a letting agent acting on his behalf? If a letting agent do they happen to sell this kind of insurance?

Outlaw91

Thanks all for your responses.

@ pixie - it is in addition to the deposit and is something the landlord has specified rather than being a standard clause in the agents contract.

@ aneary - that’s interesting, I was wondering whether carpet would have fallen under fixtures and fittings rather than contents. But guess I will need to look into the details.

Thanks

Pixie5740

What do you mean by agent's contract? Are you referring to the tenancy agreement?

You could always get some insurance to show the landlord and then cancel within the 14 day cooling off period. It is underhand but it would do the trick.

Outlaw91

Yes tenancy agreement - was referring to the tenancy agreement which has been prepared by the estate agents. Wording of the contract is as such that the landlord could request to view the insurance certificate at any time - which means we wouldn’t be able to do the cancellation ‘trick’ as you outlined.

need_an_answer

Are you renting a leasehold or a freehold property?

I am wondering if the LL feels they gain buildings insurance via the leasehold and are therefore requiring the tenant to cover internal fixtures and fittings.

If it were a freehold property I understand that usually when the LL takes buildings insurance there is the standard or sometimes optional add on of fixtures and fittings within the property.
The add on is not normally available when a block buildings insurance is taken out on a leasehold property.

Although I am struggling to think of things that the LL is trying to cover that would not be covered by the tenant deposit if damaged accidently. I can only assume they are thinking that you may do much more damage than the cost of the deposit held.

Pixie5740

Outlaw91 wrote: »

Yes tenancy agreement - was referring to the tenancy agreement which has been prepared by the estate agents. Wording of the contract is as such that the landlord could request to view the insurance certificate at any time - which means we wouldn’t be able to do the cancellation ‘trick’ as you outlined.

What are the odds of the landlord requesting to view the insurance certificate during the tenancy? I'd give you 500:1 odds on that. If you don't want to risk it then your options are I see them are:

1. Get accidental damage insurance.
2. Refuse to get the insurance and negotiate with the landlord to let you the property anyway.
3. Find somewhere else to rent.

Comms69

You cannot be forced to claim from the insurance anyway, so it's not actually that useful to the LL. (it may genuinely be useful for you to have, just in case)

G_M

Has the agent offered to arrange the insurance? Often it is the agent who includes this requiremment in the TA that they recommend to their landlords. They then get commission from selling the insurance.

Do as pixie suggested: find a policy that can be cancelled witthin 14 days without an admin fee. Show itt to the agent (give them a photocopy), then cancel for a refund.

Even if you are asked later t show the policy, once you are in occupation there's little te LL/agent can do. No hudge would evict you for a breach of contract like this.

Alternative is to ask for that clause to be deleted. You won't get the tenancy......