Home insurance with a smoker in the home

ktp111

Short question: Does home insurance need to be informed if I take in a lodger who smokes but not in the house? How much would my policy go up?

Longer story: I took in a lodger six weeks ago. She did not tell me before moving in that she smokes. I noticed that she was receiving parcels from a vaping store and asked her about it, and she promised never in the house. She went on holiday last week, though, and she gave me permission to go up in the loft where she stays, and I discovered the smell of cigarettes and found cigarette butts in the rubbish bin. This obviously won't do. I've put her on written notice that I won't allow smoking in the house and I'm going to install a cigarette smoke detector in the loft before she returns.

I haven't decided whether to boot her out yet. I'll need to talk to her about whether she is prepared to sticking with smoking outside. (She's otherwise been very easy, so I'm inclined to forgive if she shapes up). My decision about whether to let her stay hinges partly on a question about home insurance. I took out my policy saying that there were no smokers in the house. Do I need to inform the insurance company that a smoker has moved in, even if she is not allowed to smoke in the house? Any sense of how much my policy would go up if I did?

Thanks for any advice!

user1977

ktp111 said:

I took out my policy saying that there were no smokers in the house. Do I need to inform the insurance company that a smoker has moved in, even if she is not allowed to smoke in the house? 

What exactly did their question say?

ktp111

I don't remember the exact question--it was over the phone almost a year ago...

user1977

ktp111 said:

I don't remember the exact question--it was over the phone almost a year ago...

Well, I suggest you find out. I doubt it just asked about "smokers", as what does that actually mean? Somebody who occasionally has one when they're out for a drink? Insurers ought to only be interested about those who smoke in the house.

GDB2222

I don’t know whether you will get a definitive answer on this forum, but I would err on the side of telling the insurance company. The last thing you need is insurance that pays a reduced claim. I’d be more concerned about the fact you have a lodger. Do the insurance company know?

ktp111

Yes, they know I have a lodger. I will ask the insurance company if needed, I just preferred not to raise it with them if she's just going to be leaving, but maybe I'm being over-cautious.

theartfullodger

Not raising the matter with insurers is unwise.  Say (hopefully doesn't happen) lodger leaves a fag but carelessly which causes fire, disaster, people maimed/killed and you then apply to insurers for payment.  They investigate, find report from fire service of cause being fag but, no payment, you probably bankrupt.

Not worth the risk. But, hey, free country, your risk!

GDB2222

theartfullodger said:

Not raising the matter with insurers is unwise.  Say (hopefully doesn't happen) lodger leaves a fag but carelessly which causes fire, disaster, people maimed/killed and you then apply to insurers for payment.  They investigate, find report from fire service of cause being fag but, no payment, you probably bankrupt.

Not worth the risk. But, hey, free country, your risk!

It won’t be as bad as that, but they may reduce the payment. 

See here

https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/businesses/complaints-deal/insurance/misrep-and-non-disclosure

canaldumidi

What does the insurance policy say?

Or try applying for the same policy online as Jo Bloggs and see what questions you have to answer (obviously don't click throught the final 'buy now' option).

What notice period did you put in the lodger contract? 1 week?

Post 10: Lodgers: advice & links for landlords & lodgers

ktp111

theartfullodger said:

Not raising the matter with insurers is unwise.  Say (hopefully doesn't happen) lodger leaves a fag but carelessly which causes fire, disaster, people maimed/killed and you then apply to insurers for payment.  They investigate, find report from fire service of cause being fag but, no payment, you probably bankrupt.

Not worth the risk. But, hey, free country, your risk!

Well, what I said was that I wasn't sure I'd raise it with the insurance if I'm just going to ask her to leave. If she stays then I obviously need to sort this out, which is why I wanted to get a sense of what I'm looking at. She's currently on holiday until next week.

I foolishly committed to a six month license to occupy and didn't put a clause prohibiting smoking. I'll know better next time. She's my first lodger and I was much too trusting in humanity--assumed that no one would dare move in without telling me they smoke. But there are clauses in the license saying that she must take good care of the furniture (which I don't think she's done as the smell up there is not going away despite my attempts to air it out), and that the license can be revoked if she violates that clause or any other.

That's a good idea to try applying for the policy online, maybe I'll try that.

canaldumidi

ktp111 said:

theartfullodger said:

Not raising the matter with insurers is unwise.  Say (hopefully doesn't happen) lodger leaves a fag but carelessly which causes fire, disaster, people maimed/killed and you then apply to insurers for payment.  They investigate, find report from fire service of cause being fag but, no payment, you probably bankrupt.

Not worth the risk. But, hey, free country, your risk!

...... if I'm just going to ask her to leave. If she stays then I obviously need to sort this out, ....

I foolishly committed to a six month license to occupy and didn't put a clause prohibiting smoking. I'll know better next time. ...

. But there are clauses in the license saying that she must take good care of the furniture ....

!!! Ooops!

Well either she'll leave voluntarily or you are stuck with her for 6 months.

You and she have contractually agreed to 6 months occupation.

Your 'furniture' clause is wide open to disagreement on a legal level. You might be able to use it to scare her into leaving, but as for expecting a judge to rule in your favour if it went to court........

It's sad that time and again we see resident landlords here who have commited themselves to living with a stranger in their own home, with no easy way to end the agreement.

For others - never give a fixed term lodger contract - always a periodic (rolling) contract with a short notice period. And I mean short like a week.

These arrangements can work well and last for years, even on a weekly basis, but when things turn sour.......