Property 'trashed by tenant'

[ericonabike]

Not mine, but when we were viewing potential properties we came across one that had been fully renovated. Terraced house, all walls replastered, fitted kitchen and bathroom, new Worcester boiler, generally looked to have been done to a much higher standard than anything else we had seen. According to the EA, the owner's insurers had paid for this as the property had been 'trashed by the last tenant'.

Thinbgs moved on, and we bought a different property. But the EA's words came back to me when looking at insurance policies. I couldn't find one that covered damage by occupants. Was I not looking hard enough or was the EA/LL misrepresenting what had happened?

[jeffrey]

Property insurance usually excludes one's own actions or omissions. L can insure against T's, but it costs extra.

[quarterday]

if for example the tenant, presumably, accidentally, set fire to the dwelling insurers would pay provided they had accepted that the premium in the knowledge that the tenants were present and full disclosure by the insured had taken place.

A large property owners policy, effectively handled by the commercial underwriters rather than the mass market residential department of insurers might well give better cover than is available for the single private dwelling house about which you write.

[paulb67]

Hi ericonabike

Most of the better Landlords Insurance policies will provide, malicious damage, accidental damage and theft by the tenant - for buildings and contents.

Some may restrict the cover to typically £5,000.

It's not always obvious from online quote facilities what cover is offered unless you can look through the policy wording.

Best to try a broker who specialises in this type of cover.

Good Luck.

[leaseholdanswers]

We had one client who wanted to exclude candles being used from all leases and tenancies following a fire, due to their widespread use, and asked the insurers to make it a condition.