UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi, I've been offered a tenancy through an agent and have received a 'specimen agreement' this morning and it states that in order to proceed i have to provide proof of insurance to cover the landlords fixtures and fittings...i've rented before and never had to do this? Doesn't the Landlords insurance cover the fixtures and fittings?!!? Please advise ASAP, i'm due to move in in six days time, and i'm confused as to whether this is necessary, where i'm supposed to get this insurance from and how much it will cost me? I'm already being raped on the deposit and agency fees, and have next to nothing in regards to furniture etc...so really upset that i have to fork out even more money to get settled..! Please help??

Hello rebeccaroo,

It's not a legal requirement, it's a trading requirement of the agent.  They might be willing to negotiate on the point, but I'd suspect it's a waste of time: If I were an agent and a tenant said they did not want to arrange insurance to cover accidental damage, I'd get suspicious.  I'd start to think it was because your insurance history meant you were "blackballed" from getting cover, say you'd committed an insurance fraud.  Not very good for my credability with the agent.

Anyway, some agents seem to insist on this and some don't.  Maybe if an agent joins this thread, we'll learn why there's a different approach.

As far as getting the insurance, there should be lots to chose from.  If you've not got many posessions, then I'd go to a company like Endsleigh (though I'm sure there are other similar companies around).  When I were a lad, they did my student contents cover for me.  They specialise in cover for students and young professionals and they do contents policies with low sums insured and special cover extensions like landlord's Fixtures as standard: Because most students and young professionals live in rented accommodation and need those kind of cover.

Hope this helps.  Please let us know how you get on.