Buildings insurance on main residence affected by claims on BTL?

Buildings insurance on main residence affected by claims on BTL?

9:52 AM, 26th April 2023, About A year ago 8

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Hi – I have seven properties which I run as BTL and one holiday let. They are all in my name and I have buildings insurance specific to BTL and FHL for all of them in my name.

On my main residence, I have not made any claim for over 10 years, however I have made a claim on one of the rentals last year when a neighbour’s roof tore off in the storms and smashed into my BTL.

My main residence renewal has come through and the price has rocketed because they say I have had a claim, albeit on the BTL.

I have had differing advice on whether claims on BTL should impact on my personal insurance on my main residence. Clearly someone who may have 100 BTL properties is likely to have a claim or two every year and so how would they avoid not getting rated on their own house insurance?

Have other landlords experienced this?

And how do you answer the question on your main residence insurance when they ask if you have had any claims in the last five years?

Thank you,

Paul


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Comments

Seething Landlord

9:58 AM, 26th April 2023, About A year ago

If you are using a broker it is their job to present your case to the underwriters and explain the particular circumstances. Trying to use an online system will give you very limited opportunity to explain anything that is out of the ordinary.

Debra

12:16 PM, 26th April 2023, About A year ago

Yes. I have been told that any claim on any of my properties has to be declared at renewal time for all my policies and affects the insurance on all my other properties, whether BTL or principal residence or second home. It is to do with the likelihood that I might make a claim, apparently.

GlanACC

13:02 PM, 26th April 2023, About A year ago

Unfortunately yes, its up to the insurer but most of them take the same approach. Hence letting under a LTD company wont have the same issues (but its not practical for you to do that now)

Reluctant Landlord

14:22 PM, 26th April 2023, About A year ago

could you not insure your own home completely separately from your business properties?

Seething Landlord

14:31 PM, 26th April 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by DSR at 26/04/2023 - 14:22
We usually think of insuring the property but "the insured" is the policyholder and you cannot separate the two in the eyes of the underwriter, both have attributes that feature in assessing the risk, one of which is the claims history of the individual.

Elisabeth Chappel

20:47 PM, 26th April 2023, About A year ago

I had this 4 years ago. Tenant's girlfriend feared the worst as he was not answering the door or his phone. Called the police.
Police knocked down 2 fence panels and called locksmith to force the locks in double glazed back patio doors. Locksmith failed. Then tried forcing lock In composite front door. Also failed. Police then called chums with batterig ram to break down front door. Success!
Tenant arrived home from his shopping trip (to buy new walking boots for his holiday in the lakes) to 2 Pc's going through his bedroom drawers, 2 Pc's In his kitchen, and 3 PC's in his front garden watching a bloke board up th front door.
Cost to landlord:
£350,00 + vat for boarding
£1,650.00 for new door & framework
£120.00 for patio door repair
£60.00 FOR fence repair.
Police accepted no responsibility as it was "a medical emergency"
I claimed through my landlord insurance, a proper landlord insurer. They paid in full, minus a £250.00 excess.
There was no unreasonable increase in policy at renewal.
My home insurance, however, DOUBLED at renewal. Despite it being the only claim ever on 14 insured properties owned.
Incidentally tenant is a 74 year old church verger.
Go figure.

Paul Baker

23:19 PM, 26th April 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by DSR at 26/04/2023 - 14:22
I do! My own home is insured completely separately from the BTL's. It has a different renewal date, it's with a different company, the terms and conditions are different.
In my mind the BTL's insurance are an entirely different entity to my own home insurance but unfortunately insurers think differently.

GlanACC

8:17 AM, 27th April 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Paul Baker at 26/04/2023 - 23:19
Unfortunately claims are linked by an insurance database even if at different addresses, so any insurance company if it so wanted can look up previous claims for you (I know as I worked on this software)

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