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Do I need insurance for leasehold flat?

15 replies

PineappleB · 04/10/2020 22:50

I have a leasehold flat which I rent out. The service fee covers insurance cost so I suppose the freeholder cover the building insurance. Does it normally cover fitting and fixtures like flooring, fitted kitchen or bathroom in case there is a fire ore water leaks? Then I don't need to buy building insurance? But the freeholder policy is not under my name. How do I claim if anything happens?

It's a partly furnished flat and the content doesn't really worth much that I need any insurance. But I do want to have cover for third party liabilities. Is it landlord content insurance that I should look for ?

I am confused. Please help

OP posts:
OldSpeclkledHen · 05/10/2020 07:38

I live in a flat, the building (bricks/mortar) is covered by the building insurance- which is the responsibility of the maintenance company (to whom you should pay a service charge)
The contents is everything inside the flat, so that includes fixtures/fitting (ie kitchen carpet etc) which is my responsibility, so I have contents cover for that.
Not sure if you're renting the property out - what sort of insurance you'd need? Maybe speak to an insurance company to see what they cover?

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 05/10/2020 07:41

Flooring would be covered under Contents Insurance.

165EatonPlace · 05/10/2020 07:47

The building insurance usually comes out of your service charge, (you need to check). You need good landlord's insurance.
The tenant will need their own insurance for contents.

Justpassingtime1 · 05/10/2020 08:20

You need to check but you will almost certainly have b insurance included in the service charge.
Do you have a mortgage? If so your solicitor will almost certainly have checked this on purchase as it is usually a condition of a mortgage.
If you letting you must check if the insurance permits tenants and if so whether they exclude certain types of tenants or not otherwise you could find the policy is invalid
On the other hand some policies even cover damage etc by tenants but you need to check

ODFOx · 05/10/2020 08:24

You need to have landlord insurance.
The freeholder insurance would rebuild the building after a fire but it would be down to you to decorate and fill your own flat. Likewise you'll want insurance in case a tenant decides to rip out the pipes or smash up the bathroom.

biddybird · 05/10/2020 12:58

It depends whether fixtures and fittings are included in the landlord's buildings insurance.
As a leaseholder you have a right to see the policy, so just ask them or their agents to send it to you.
You can then ask them to include these things (if they aren't already) or take out your own policy for F&F.

hgaj · 05/10/2020 13:26

As pp said, ask to see a copy of the buildings insurance. This will usually cover fixtures and fittings (but not carpets). My previous one listed things that were included like kitchen units, built in oven/hob, tiles. Theres a chance a BTL mortgage might require you to buy landlord's insurance policy but otherwise it's up to you whether you're worried about the remaining risk (and for things such as your tenant trashing the place).

LIZS · 05/10/2020 13:30

No , flooring, appliances etc would need to be covered by a contents policy. If damage was caused by a leak from another flat you would claim on theirs and vice versa. Buildings policy only covers the fabric of the building and communal areas.

Bells3032 · 05/10/2020 13:30

your buildings insurance will only cover anything in the shared area. you need to have insurance to cover anything internal and I would reccomend landlords insurance in case the tenants stop paying or cause malicious damage

PineappleB · 05/10/2020 14:29

Thanks everyone
Anyone knows that fixture and fitting should be under building or content insurance ?

OP posts:
Bells3032 · 05/10/2020 14:36

Should come under your contents insurance

SisyphusDad · 05/10/2020 15:28

You need to check the insurance policy / insurer. When I looked for Landlord's insurance, things like the kitchen cabinets and built-in appliances were considered, to my surprise, to be under the buildings insurance, not contents.

whataboutbob · 05/10/2020 19:56

I’m in the same situation. I have landlords insurance which covers liability insurance as well as buildings and contents ( eg my furniture) So if the tenant came to harm in your property and sued, you are covered. I have actually claimed via the freeholder‘s policy for escape of water and was awarded the cost of the repair, and that was before I got wise to landlord insurance, but I think I was lucky in that instance.

biddybird · 06/10/2020 17:58

The only "rule" I have read about it is that if you take it with you when you leave, it's contents.
If you leave it in the house/flat when you move out, it's buildings.

But it all depends on what the policy says. Fixtures and fittings could be covered under either policy.

Ffsffsffsffsffs · 06/10/2020 18:14

Contents covers things that you would take when you move out.

It does not cover things like fitted wardrobes, kitchen units, built-in appliances etc.

But DO check the policy for the exact wording.

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