Home insurance with lodgers

1404

I have two lodgers and just renewed my home insurance with MBNA. Previously I was with Post Office for a number of years.

Firstly I didn't have the option for Emergency Home Cover with MBNA due to having lodgers. That was odd because I've always had it previously with other insurers.

And then when I phoned MBNA to ask a few questions I was led to believe that nothing the lodgers did was covered either. I knew their contents weren't covered (as is always the case). But I'm now questioning whether if they cause serious damage whilst cooking or bathing it would be covered at all. 

Anyone encountered similar? 

DullGreyGuy

1404 said:

I have two lodgers and just renewed my home insurance with MBNA. Previously I was with Post Office for a number of years.

Firstly I didn't have the option for Emergency Home Cover with MBNA due to having lodgers. That was odd because I've always had it previously with other insurers.

And then when I phoned MBNA to ask a few questions I was led to believe that nothing the lodgers did was covered either. I knew their contents weren't covered (as is always the case). But I'm now questioning whether if they cause serious damage whilst cooking or bathing it would be covered at all. 

Anyone encountered similar? 

Have you asked them where in the policy book you can find these exclusions?

You'd expect deliberate acts not to be covered but accidental damage, assuming you have AD cover, would be. 

1404

DullGreyGuy said:

1404 said:

I have two lodgers and just renewed my home insurance with MBNA. Previously I was with Post Office for a number of years.

Firstly I didn't have the option for Emergency Home Cover with MBNA due to having lodgers. That was odd because I've always had it previously with other insurers.

And then when I phoned MBNA to ask a few questions I was led to believe that nothing the lodgers did was covered either. I knew their contents weren't covered (as is always the case). But I'm now questioning whether if they cause serious damage whilst cooking or bathing it would be covered at all. 

Anyone encountered similar? 

Have you asked them where in the policy book you can find these exclusions?

You'd expect deliberate acts not to be covered but accidental damage, assuming you have AD cover, would be. 

I haven't asked them yet as I only put the phone down and hour ago, but will call them tomorrow. I've just looked at the policy document and the word "lodger" doesn't appear at all. The word "tenant" only appears four times and is mostly in reference to tenants themselves taking out home insurance.

What does AD mean, please? 

DullGreyGuy

AD = accidental damage

1404

What on earth is the point of insurance without accidental damage cover or cover for lodgers when you have declared that you have two of them. Ridiculous.

1404

I have "MBNA Essentials Level" home insurance. With legal cover and outbuildings cover added on. 

DullGreyGuy

1404 said:

What on earth is the point of insurance without accidental damage cover or cover for lodgers when you have declared that you have two of them. Ridiculous.

Many people dont have AD cover, they are more concerned about people breaking in or their home burning down than if they drop some wine on a carpet. It comes down to peoples preferences, level of risk they want to retain, how much they want to pay for their insurance etc. 

Take another example, Driving Other Cars (DOC) on most Motor policies only gives you third party cover so if you damage the vehicle there is no cover for that. There are insurance out there like Hiscox who offer comp cover on DoC and some would presumably say why'd you have anything else but to buy their Motor you must have your Home insurance with them, their minimum charge on motor (about 10 years ago anyway) was £1,500. Suspect most decide it's something they can live without. 

1404 said:

I have "MBNA Essentials Level" home insurance. With legal cover and outbuildings cover added on. 

AD is not included as standard on their essentials cover, its an optional extra

1404

DullGreyGuy said:

1404 said:

What on earth is the point of insurance without accidental damage cover or cover for lodgers when you have declared that you have two of them. Ridiculous.

Many people dont have AD cover, they are more concerned about people breaking in or their home burning down than if they drop some wine on a carpet. It comes down to peoples preferences, level of risk they want to retain, how much they want to pay for their insurance etc. 

Take another example, Driving Other Cars (DOC) on most Motor policies only gives you third party cover so if you damage the vehicle there is no cover for that. There are insurance out there like Hiscox who offer comp cover on DoC and some would presumably say why'd you have anything else but to buy their Motor you must have your Home insurance with them, their minimum charge on motor (about 10 years ago anyway) was £1,500. Suspect most decide it's something they can live without. 

1404 said:

I have "MBNA Essentials Level" home insurance. With legal cover and outbuildings cover added on. 

AD is not included as standard on their essentials cover, its an optional extra

Thanks for that. I thought I asked for their optional extras (other than Home Emergency Cover, which wasn't an option). But will call them tomorrow and ask. It's not due to start for 2 weeks so I have time. That being said, it makes me question my existing policy with Post Office now!


So AD doesn't cover a lodger burning the house down whilst trying to cook? Or flooding the house by falling asleep in the bath?

DullGreyGuy

1404 said:

DullGreyGuy said:

1404 said:

What on earth is the point of insurance without accidental damage cover or cover for lodgers when you have declared that you have two of them. Ridiculous.

Many people dont have AD cover, they are more concerned about people breaking in or their home burning down than if they drop some wine on a carpet. It comes down to peoples preferences, level of risk they want to retain, how much they want to pay for their insurance etc. 

Take another example, Driving Other Cars (DOC) on most Motor policies only gives you third party cover so if you damage the vehicle there is no cover for that. There are insurance out there like Hiscox who offer comp cover on DoC and some would presumably say why'd you have anything else but to buy their Motor you must have your Home insurance with them, their minimum charge on motor (about 10 years ago anyway) was £1,500. Suspect most decide it's something they can live without. 

1404 said:

I have "MBNA Essentials Level" home insurance. With legal cover and outbuildings cover added on. 

AD is not included as standard on their essentials cover, its an optional extra

Thanks for that. I thought I asked for their optional extras (other than Home Emergency Cover, which wasn't an option). But will call them tomorrow and ask. It's not due to start for 2 weeks so I have time. That being said, it makes me question my existing policy with Post Office now!


So AD doesn't cover a lodger burning the house down whilst trying to cook? Or flooding the house by falling asleep in the bath?

It normally would and can see nothing in the MBNA policy to say their's wont. What it wouldn't cover would be you asking them to move out and them setting fire to the house in revenge. 

1404

DullGreyGuy said:

1404 said:

DullGreyGuy said:

1404 said:

What on earth is the point of insurance without accidental damage cover or cover for lodgers when you have declared that you have two of them. Ridiculous.

Many people dont have AD cover, they are more concerned about people breaking in or their home burning down than if they drop some wine on a carpet. It comes down to peoples preferences, level of risk they want to retain, how much they want to pay for their insurance etc. 

Take another example, Driving Other Cars (DOC) on most Motor policies only gives you third party cover so if you damage the vehicle there is no cover for that. There are insurance out there like Hiscox who offer comp cover on DoC and some would presumably say why'd you have anything else but to buy their Motor you must have your Home insurance with them, their minimum charge on motor (about 10 years ago anyway) was £1,500. Suspect most decide it's something they can live without. 

1404 said:

I have "MBNA Essentials Level" home insurance. With legal cover and outbuildings cover added on. 

AD is not included as standard on their essentials cover, its an optional extra

Thanks for that. I thought I asked for their optional extras (other than Home Emergency Cover, which wasn't an option). But will call them tomorrow and ask. It's not due to start for 2 weeks so I have time. That being said, it makes me question my existing policy with Post Office now!


So AD doesn't cover a lodger burning the house down whilst trying to cook? Or flooding the house by falling asleep in the bath?

It normally would and can see nothing in the MBNA policy to say their's wont. What it wouldn't cover would be you asking them to move out and them setting fire to the house in revenge. 

Lol. Good to know 🙈. Would any other policies cover that either though?

1404

What would a homeowner do if a lodger deliberately burned the house down?