Landlord Insurance Query – Public liability for flat?

Landlord Insurance Query – Public liability for flat?

10:42 AM, 2nd March 2016, About 8 years ago 13

Text Size

I have a landlord insurance query that I hope some may be able to advise me on.flat

I am looking to get landlord insurance on a buy-to-let flat (yet to exchange) within a house that’s been converted into 4 flats in total. I will have a share of the freehold of the flat, which is held within a company. The company has a block buildings insurance policy and I therefore only need public liability insurance (the flat is unfurnished so I don’t need contents insurance).

I have spoken with a landlord insurance company and they informed me that I could not purchase public liability insurance on its own and had to have a form of contents insurance or building insurance in order to get this – is this correct?

I’m a little confused as I don’t want to buy extra insurance unnecessarily and I only want the public liability bit to insure me against any accidents the tenants may have (and possible accidental damage by tenants and track and trace).

Before I knew about the block insurance, I got a quote online, which included public liability and buildings insurance and this was roughly similar to the price I will be paying for the block insurance policy. The quote I was given on the phone when I just asked for public liability however, was even higher than this, which seems strange if it doesn’t include the buildings insurance aspect.

I want to make sure I’m getting the correct cover and not getting cover twice, so any advice would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks,

Martha


Share This Article


Comments

Monty Bodkin

9:52 AM, 3rd March 2016, About 8 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Gary Nock" at "03/03/2016 - 09:15":

Thanks for reminding me Gary, quite right there was a recent case. Meant to put this link to the asterix in my comment*

http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2015/20.html

Doesn't convince me though.

Jason McClean - The Home Insurer

15:07 PM, 3rd March 2016, About 8 years ago

Hi All

It looks like it will be around 1st May that we can launch a standalone Public Liability Insurance offering for landlords. It is likely to cost around £50 for the year.

The sub let insurance for rent to rent landlords will be available at around the same time. The landlord who is renting to rent out again can buy the insurance. It will cost a minimum of £20 more than standard landlords insurance but will then provide standard cover.

Hope this helps and solves some problems!

Best

Jason

Tinkerbelle Lamb

14:40 PM, 12th July 2016, About 8 years ago

Hi,

I'm new to this so hoping someone can answer my question.

Does anyone know if Landlord's Contents Insurance has changed?

I have just started letting out a flat (maisonette) which is within a block of flats. it is my understanding that I do not need to purchase buildings insurance as this is provided by the freeholder of the block. I am therefore trying to purchase insurance to cover me for any potential liability that may arise whilst the tenants or their visitors are within my flat itself (i.e. someone slips and falls on the stairs within my flat). As suggested in previous posts, I have looked into Landlord Contents Insurance as apparently they usually have Public Liability bolted on. However, all the quotes I've received so far would suggest otherwise. They do instead seem to afford "Landlord's Contents Liability" which in my opinion is not quite the same as Public Liability. My understanding of the policy wording is that should a piece of fixture or fitting i.e. shelf falls down and injures the tenant, or they slip and injure themselves over a bit of loose carpeting then this would be covered. However, what about in the case of say a leaky pipe which subsequently leaves a wet puddle on the floor and the tenant slips over it, or they fall down the stairs and tries to make a claim against me. This is not related to any "contents" so I would not be covered. Am I right?

Any advise would be very much appreciated.

Thanks!

Leave Comments

In order to post comments you will need to Sign In or Sign Up for a FREE Membership

or

Don't have an account? Sign Up

Landlord Tax Planning Book Now