Accidental damage to landlord property insurance

Secretsusie

My son is just about to rent for the first time.  The agreement has just arrived. Within it, and highlighted, it requires insurance for accidental damage to landlords property. 
Is this different to contents insurance? I've not much experience of renting and not really sure what we need in addition to contents insurance.
Also another inexperienced question, it's an AST but with a fixed 6 month period. Does this mean it won't go into a rolling tenancy at the end? 

diggingdude

I'm rubbish with insurance someone will be here soon. Re AST contract will go rolling after 6 months unless he signs a new contract. As a bonus if house becomes a nightmare he can leave at 6 months 

theartfullodger

Take out insurance online just before move in.  Online gives you 15 days to cancel.

After move in, cancel.

Afaik it's invalid to insure someone else's assets.

Any landlord with 1/2 a brain would insure his stuff.  But there's no requirement in England for landlords to have even 1/2 a brain, nor any training, nor any qualifications nor to have been criminal records checked 

user1977

theartfullodger said:

Afaik it's invalid to insure someone else's assets.

It is however totally valid for a tenant to insure against their own liability for costs they incur by damaging landlords' property through their negligence. But not mandatory. I think it's a pretty standard inclusion in tenants' contents policies.

Secretsusie

user1977 said:

theartfullodger said:

Afaik it's invalid to insure someone else's assets.

It is however totally valid for a tenant to insure against their own liability for costs they incur by damaging landlords' property through their negligence. But not mandatory. I think it's a pretty standard inclusion in tenants' contents policies.

Im happy to do that, just want to make sure it's not a seperate product to tenant contents insurance. 

Secretsusie

This is the wording.  ...
It is your responsibility to ensure that your own possessions are insured against normal risks

It is also your responsibility to insure against accidental damage to your Landlord’s property

saajan_12

Secretsusie said:

My son is just about to rent for the first time.  The agreement has just arrived. Within it, and highlighted, it requires insurance for accidental damage to landlords property. 
Is this different to contents insurance? I've not much experience of renting and not really sure what we need in addition to contents insurance.
Also another inexperienced question, it's an AST but with a fixed 6 month period. Does this mean it won't go into a rolling tenancy at the end? 

Contents insurance would be for son's items within the property (generally removable things he brings in). 

The ask here is for additional insurance on son's liability if he accidentally damages the LL's stuff (furniture, white goods, doors, etc). He would anyway be liable for such damages through his deposit at the end. However the LL is asking for son to buy insurance, so that there's no chasing at the end if the damages exceed the deposit etc. 

Practically, if he doesn't get the insurance, then there's little the LL can do - it would technically be a breach of the agreement, but the LL's loss is the amount of the damages, which he can claim anyway through the deposit / court. 

So its up to you whether to
* get the insurance and pay premiums; or
* refuse and get them to remove the line in the contract; or
* get a piece of paper to pacify them for now, and then cancel and hope for the best. 

Secretsusie

Happy to get the insurance, we are grateful the landlord accepted his application, he's young,  has only just started working in a town away from home, so many LL would see him as a risk.   We are certainly grateful, and if they want this extra insurance that's fine.  I'm just not sure where I buy it lol. 

MaryNB

diggingdude said:

I'm rubbish with insurance someone will be here soon. Re AST contract will go rolling after 6 months unless he signs a new contract. As a bonus if house becomes a nightmare he can leave at 6 months 

OP, make sure you son bears the above in mind. Letting agents have a habit of telling tenants they have to renew a the end of the fixed term (so they can charge the landlord renewal fees). He is under no obligation to renew. He doesn't have to say, do or sign anything. His tenancy is still completely valid after the fixed term ends and he has much more flexibility with regards to ending the tenancy. 

Secretsusie

Thanks for everyone's help.   Incase anyone else reads this in the future, direct line includes tenant liability insurance as standard on their contents policies.

Robbo66

They are referring to tenants content insurance that also has tenant liability however it is now illegal to have a clause in an agreement that insists on a 3rd party as payment as a condition of the tenancy