Landlord's Insurance

Jarvissa

Hello I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction.

I'm moving abroad for a year and will be letting out my house (to three tenants) while I am away. My regular home/contents insurance runs out on the 1st April so needs renewing anyhow.

Which insurance companies offer 'Landlord's' policies? I've always bought my insurance online with the big names, but from a ring round today, none of them can offer me cover.
Obviously I want a cheap, competitive premium but I do not want to skimp on cover!

Many thanks in advance

chamb7914

I am currently involved in a major dispute with a landlord over insurance and his obligation and mine regarding cover in the event (in this case flooding) of anything happening. My advice to a would be LL is get the most comprehensive contents and buildings cover regardless of whether or not it is furnished . My landlord rented to us unfurnished however as the carpets are considered contents he should have had contents cover to insure them and he didnt. As the carpets do not belong to me i am not obligted to replace them under my contents policy. see below but hopefully a decent insurance provider will point you in the right direction...in a nut shell the house is your business while it is rented and what business doesnt insure against the majority of things to protect there assets...

really hope this helps
For your reference: taken from the financial ombudsman service website reference adequate insurance

buildings insurance covers the structure of the building, plus permanent ‘fixtures and fittings’ such as baths, fitted kitchens etc. The test is – can it reasonably be removed and taken to another home? If it can, then it is part of the ‘contents’ and it will not generally be covered by a buildings policy. Buildings policies usually include outbuildings – garages, garden sheds etc.
contents insurance covers your possessions – your television set, furniture, clothes etc. In other words, just about everything you would take with you if you moved.
While it is generally easy to determine whether an item is part of the buildings or part of the contents, we see plenty of cases where this is not immediately apparent. The way in which a firm categorises certain items can sometimes appear to the policyholder to be illogical or, at worst, a cynical attempt to avoid paying legitimate claims.
For example, a television set is clearly part of the household contents and is covered under the contents policy – as is a portable aerial that sits on top of the set or close to it. But why should a television aerial that is fixed permanently to the roof of the house also be defined as part of the contents? Very few householders would ever think of climbing on to the roof and dismantling the aerial in order to take it with them when they move house. And claims for these aerials are most likely to be made when the roof has been damaged by an ‘external insured event’ (such as storm or lightning) that is covered by the buildings insurance.
Our general approach in the disputes that are referred to us is to regard those items that are fixed and have essentially become part of the fabric of the property as ‘buildings’, while the rest are ‘contents’. So, for example, we would normally consider fitted wardrobes, fitted kitchens and built-in appliances to be covered under a buildings policy, whereas the contents policy would cover items of furniture and appliances that are free-standing or (if screwed to a wall) easily removable.
We obviously have regard to the policy definitions and exclusions. However, where we consider that a firm’s policy definition of an item as ‘contents’ or ‘buildings’ was unreasonable, and has led to a perverse and unfair result, we may require the firm to pay the claim.
Like the courts, we follow the industry convention of treating carpets as ‘contents’, even though they are often fitted. Although most people would probably leave their fitted carpets behind when moving home, the fact remains that fitted carpets can be taken up relatively quickly and easily and re-laid to an acceptable standard. It is their transportable quality that properly makes them part of the contents.

Gallovidian

We have used simplelandlordsinsurance.com and their
prices are reasonable. Their may be better ones but that
is the one that we use and have had no problems.

mlz1413

my buildings insurance is through my lender and I get comprehensive cover and say yes to accidental damage cover, so things like a broken window or loo are covered.

But I get the tenant to pay for contents insurance as I let unfurnished. Then it is up to them what cover they get and any arguments they may have in the event of a claim.

EDIT have just fully read CHAMBS post and am about to ring my ins co as they told me everything was covered that 'wouldnot fall out if a house was tipped upside down' I thought was subjective at the time as what falls out would depend on how well it was fitted!!

chrisw

I've also been looking and Direct Line for Business seem to be considerably cheaper than the others for basic buildings insurance.

amandajp_2

We use Higos for both our home insurance and my husband's landlord insurance as they have quoted us the best price for the past couple of years. They're a broker recommended by our financial adviser. Web link is http://www.higos.co.uk/index.html or call 01749 834500.

HTH
Amanda

amandajp_2

Oops...duplicate post!!

tbs624

You could try Alan Bosworth (alanboswell.com), Homelet, or try here http://www.moneysupermarket.com/landlord-insurance/

woodys_wonders

Also try www.milestonehouse.com or ring them and quote NB10 for a 10% discount 0845 271 1831

Hope this helps:j

silvercar

I use alanboswell.com their building cover includes cover for carpets, white goods and curtains if owned by the landlord.

KiKi

I use Alan Boswell, too - very comprehensive cover.

KiKi