House Insurance (Sort of Boaty)

[BigART]

We are setting off on the long trip in a few months. We intend to let the house in our absence, however Direct Line, the house/contents insurers have informed me that they will not cover rented property while the owner is abroad unless they are on work secondment. Shame, otherwise they are a good company.

Has anyone recommendations for house/contents insurance for a let house?

 

[Sea Devil]

I have given up on contents insurance on rented property - firstly you should not leave really valuable items, Next you will hold a deposit of a month to month and a half rent against damage, finally you get a 10% deterioration of furnishing allowance from the IR. The alternatives are very very expensive - call some letting agents for prices of that sort of insurance!!!

 

[BigART]

Yes, you are right. I had sort of forgotten that we had decided to let the house unfurnished (I understand that you get a 'nicer' client with a bit more respect for their own furniture). Storage costs are silly so we will flog it all or stick small items in the attic and buy more on our return. So no contents. At last, I have saved some money...

 

[mikewilkes]

We used to rent out and insured ours through Norwich Union. They do a policy for that.

 

[BigART]

Thanks for the tip, I shall give them a call.

 

[AndrewB]

Do you know if there is any need for indemnity insurance? (E.g. tenants electrocute themselves, blame it on fittings).

 

[snowleopard]

we used saga before we left but they wouldn't cover us for letting. i think we changed to churchill.

 

[PlanB]

Bishop Skinner, brokers who do marine insurance, have just cut my "normal" household insurance by 50%. They have also confirmed that, when I turn into a liveaboard later this year, they'll organise a rented policy instead. They really do seem able to organise any sort of insurance for specific circumstances, including liveaboard medical!

 

[Deleted member 478]

There's a crowd called The National Landlords Association and for a mere £70 or so a year, you can get free legal advice from them. Their newsletter is full of adverts for tenanted insurance. Their number is 0870 241 0471.

I've been a member for a few years now and I can highly recommend them.

 

[AndrewB]

Looks useful - Thanks! (nm).

nm

 

[ColdFusion]

Nice one, thanks /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[MedMan]

I let my flat for our first six years away. We were insured with HSBC who were quite happy to keep the flat insured when it was let out and modify the policy accordingly to make sure that I was covered against any liability claims. I do consider that landlord's liability cover is absolutely essential in today's world or you could be personally liable for a huge claim against you. On the few occasions when I happened to be in the country and the flat happened to be empty (twice I think) I let them know and they switched the cover back to normal householders, even for just a few days.