Landlords Insurance and pest infestations
10:57 AM, 22nd January 2014, 12 years ago
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Please can anyone tell me if landlords insurance policies cover pest infestations? Including any damage caused by the pests.
We have a problem with rats, the tenant is responsible because of the rubbish they let build up in the garden, and also the pet rabbits they are now keeping in the attached garage. Will our insurers cover the damage caused by the rats chewing.
What would a landlord need to do, they did not know the tenant had rabbits in the garage.
Many thanks
Carol
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Member Since February 2011 - Comments: 3453 - Articles: 286
11:03 AM, 22nd January 2014, About 12 years ago
Hi Carol,
I have put your question to my insurance contact Jason who is also a landlord himself.
His answer below:
Landlords policies do not cover pest infestation and damage as it is not an insurable peril. If they have rats in the property they would need to contact the council as they will resolve the problem for them. Any damage that has been caused I would suggest the tenants are liable for and will need to be reclaimed through the deposit.
If a pet has been kept at the property without notifying the landlord or agent then the tenant is liable. Normally there is a pet deposit required against any such damage. A regular property inspection would have revealed these problems early, so a good agent would really help here by heading the problem off before it happened.
It is the tenants’ responsibility to keep the property in good order and it sounds here as though they plainly haven’t and that has caused loss. Careful management of the tenants will be required to resolve, however, a good AST will cover pets and damage caused by neglect, as in this case.
Please also don’t forget that Property118 can now guarantee to beat any like for like Landlords insurance quote. We have been able to do this with Jason’s help 🙂
please see>> https://www.property118.com/new-years-resolution-to-save-money-on-your-landlords-insurance/61503/
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 97
9:37 PM, 22nd January 2014, About 12 years ago
reminds me of a tenant i had some 20 yrs ago, had a phone call from this tenant to say my property had a rat problem, all my fault of course, i said i would call round that night on way home, was told that was not o k with him, well i did call round that night to find in excess of 30 bin bags of waste by back door, he was just too bone idle to take them around to the front for the bin men to collect. turns out this guy was the son of a very well respected director of a well known local garage in norwich, i later found out that his father had dis- owned him, how embarrassing for his father having a son like that.
Member Since February 2011 - Comments: 3453 - Articles: 286
8:48 AM, 23rd January 2014, About 12 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “andrew townshend” at “22/01/2014 – 21:37“:
Some people just make no sense at all ! 30 bin bags!
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 97
9:02 AM, 23rd January 2014, About 12 years ago
YES NEIL… 30 BIN BAGS !
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 646 - Articles: 1
9:34 AM, 23rd January 2014, About 12 years ago
another example of why periodic inspections more frequently than 3 months are a good idea (as previous postings)!