May 17, 2012

LandlordBuddy

Landlord Insurance Comparison

Five facts about property insurance for landlords


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If you currently own a property, you may be wondering what property insurance for landlords is. Property insurance for landlords has one primary aim: to help protect the landlord against theft or damage to their property. If something were to happen to the property – for instance, if it got flooded or burgled – having an insurance policy could protect the landlord financially. It also helps protect against unruly tenants; if they were to cause any damage to your property, you would be protected against that too.

Property insurance for landlords should be taken out even if you are renting only part of a property. For example, if you were renting the back room of your home out, you would be advised to take out an insurance policy. This is because your actions are now commercial and you are entering into a transaction with the tenant. Be sure to check with your current insurance providers to see whether or not they provide property insurance.

Property insurance is even needed if you only rent out a property for a few weeks each year. This may be when you go on your annual holiday. Some insurance providers cater specially for these circumstances.

Although property insurance for landlords isn’t a legal requirement, it is highly recommended. You could find yourself in a lot of trouble if something happens and you aren’t protected. At the very least, it will give you peace of mind, even if you never end up using it.

Finally – it isn’t easy to con an insurance company. Many make false claims on their insurance in an attempt to gain financially. The majority of those who do this do get caught out, and legally disciplined. Insurance companies always investigate claims to ensure they are valid.

Are you getting the whole picture when you compare landlords insurance?


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When you are shopping for landlords insurance it is very important that you are comparing all the deals available. There are a number of websites that will help you effectively compare all the insurance providers available to help you find a policy that is best for you. But are you getting all the information you need when you compare landlords insurance?

Contrasting deals has been made simple by using the insurance comparison websites that can be logged on to at any time of the day. They will provide you with a comprehensive list of all the available policies. You will be able to review a brief description of the policy. If you want to find out more, the comparison website will also link you to the insurance company website.

The law states that insurance companies must provide a key facts sheet that is readily available for potential customers can read. This means that you can read all the information that you need to know. The company website will also display all the relevant details about the policy they are offering.

The website may also offer you a breakdown of the cover you will receive, as well as the excess charges you may be paying in the event of making a claim. This helps you identify how much companies are prepared to pay out if you do have to make a claim. Furthermore, you’ll know how much excess you will be expected to pay.

You can also look at what additional extras or discounts you may receive. Some policies may include some complimentary cover, like free accidental damage. Any discounts that are available will also be displayed so you can compare who is offering the best deal.

As long as you are researching and frequently comparing deals online, you are sure to find all the information you need when you are comparing landlords insurance.

Landlords Insurance


The prospect of buying landlord insurance can seem quite daunting to those who are new to it – and it can be as equally as daunting to old hands too, but why? Because there is a lot more to it than your standard home insurance. When buying landlords-insurance you need to choose between one of two ways of claiming – you can claim the actual cash value, or a replacement value for items that are damaged. Both of these have their positive as well as negative aspects, so it can be difficult to decide which one is the best one for you.

If you decide to go with the actual cash value settlement on a landlord’s insurance policy, the premiums tend to be lower than with replacement values. The reason for this is that any compensation you will receive when making a claim will take in to account any deprecation of the current value, meaning that you may end up receiving less compensation than you first thought you would receive.

The premiums on replacement value landlords-insurance tend to be higher than those for cash value landlords-insurance, but if you make a claim you will receive compensation that will cover the cost of replacing any items as if they were brand new. With replacement value compensation you need to make sure that the rental property is kept in ‘a good condition’ otherwise the landlords-insurance policy is invalid. If you make a claim you also need to make sure that the item, be it a CD or the whole house, is replaced as if not you will receive the cash value compensation rather than replacement value compensation.

If you do decide to go with the higher premium replacement value landlords-insurance but are looking to reduce the policy costs, then you can increase the deductibles on your policy. In essence, deductibles are the same as excess on other insurance products, but increasing the excess or deductible your premiums go down.

How to find public liability insurance for landlords online


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If you are the owner of a property, you may be considering taking out some insurance cover, to help protect you if anything goes wrong. There are a number of different types of insurance available; one kind popular with landlords is public liability insurance.

Public liability insurance helps you if a tenant staying in your property suffers death or a serious injury whilst in it. If the case is taken to court, and you are found guilty of negligence to the property, you may receive a fine. In this case, you can use your public liability insurance and make a claim. The insurance company will deal with the matter, and you will be protected from any hard financial blows. Of course, you should always check the insurance policy carefully to see what it covers. Be sure to read the terms and conditions, as a lot of important information can be found in the small print.

You can find public liability insurance for landlords online. One way to do this is by visiting an insurance company’s website. Here, you will be able to browse through all the different insurance policies they have on offer. Most companies provide some sort of public liability insurance suitable for landlords.

On the Internet you will come across a variety of insurance comparison websites. These are helpful tools to use in order to compare the different policies offered by insurance companies. Remember to look at all key elements of the policy – these are the price, how extensive the cover is and any additional costs the company may charge for making a claim.

Find public liability insurance for landlords online today to give you peace of mind when renting out your property. A number of insurance policies are available on the Internet.

How to make a claim on your residential landlords insurance


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If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of needing to make an insurance claim, the steps you need to take or simple. Whilst it is stressful and worrying when something goes wrong with a property you rent, your insurance company is there to help. Making a claim on your residential landlords insurance is easy.

Firstly, you need to make sure the residential landlords insurance you have covers the incident that has took place. For instance, if your property was burgled, you will probably need contents insurance, or another insurance policy that protects against burglary. In some cases, you may have the option to claim on a number of your insurance policies (if you pay for more than one type). In this case, look for which has the lower excess charge.

Then, you need to make the claim. The easiest way to do this with the majority of companies is by contacting them and requesting a claim form. Some companies will give you the option of making a claim quickly over the phone. This is the best option if you are unsure about how to make a claim, as you will be able to speak to an adviser.

You will need to have quotes for things such as replacements and repairs. As well as this, you may need to calculate how much revenue you are likely to lose because of the incident. If you have any emergency work done, make sure you keep any receipts.

Finally, don’t try and lie or hide any information when making a claim. Insurance companies always investigate claims carefully to ensure they are valid. If you are found to be providing misinformation, you could face legal action or complications with your claim proceedings.

Six ways to get simple landlord insurance


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If you are currently renting out a property, you may be considering taking out insurance cover. landlord insurance can protect you financially if anything goes wrong with your property. But with the large number of different insurance policies now available, choosing the right one can be complicated. Here are six ways to get simple landlords insurance.

You can get insurance cover online, which is quick and easy. Simply use a search engine to find insurance providers, and browse through the policies they offer. Make sure the website is well accredited, to avoid being scammed.

A number of comparison websites on the Internet make it quick and easy to get simple landlords insurance. You can enter some basic details about what you are looking for in an insurance policy, and some suitable providers will come up. You can then easily compare their differing policy aspects and prices.

Many insurance companies offer an ‘all in one’ insurance policy, which protects against the common problems rented properties can face. ‘All in one’ policies will help if your property is burgled, if it is damaged in a flood or fire and if a tenant doesn’t pay their rent.

If you are looking for a particular type of insurance, you can select a suitable policy for this need. For instance, if you would like a policy that protects against loss if rent, there are policies that insure against this (and only this, so the insurance is cheaper).

Getting simple landlords insurance from a company on the high street is very easy. You can visit your local branch, where an adviser can help you face to face.

Contacting your current insurance provider is a good idea, if you have one. They may offer you cheaper landlords insurance as you are already a customer.

Top tips for finding low cost landlord insurance


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If you are a landlord – no matter how many properties you own, from one to 100 – you need to take out some landlord insurance. This will help protect you financially if anything goes wrong with your property. There are a number of different providers of landlord insurance, so it is important to choose the right one and a policy to suit you. Here are some top tips for finding low cost landlord insurance.

Firstly – if you have safety and security amenties installed (such as fire alarms, burglar alarms or extra secure locking systems) look for insurance providers who offer discounts for having these. Many provide a lower monthly rate if you have these additional measures in place. This is a great way to knock a few pounds off your insurance.

Consider how well-furnished your property is. Some insurance policies will offer new for old replacements, whilst others will provide a financial reimbursement for lost items. If your property has lots of furniture, it is more cost effective to opt for a policy that replaces your items.

You can find low cost landlord insurance by only renting your property out to particular types of tenants. For instance, if your tenants are mainly students or young people, insurance will be more expensive. Cheaper insurance can be provided if they have professional occupations, or are married couples.

Be sure to compare a variety of insurance companies before choosing one, as they all offer different deals. Some may be better suited to your needs than others. You can easily research different insurance providers on the Internet.

Most importantly, make sure the insurance you take out is right for you. Make a list of everything you want from your cover. This way, you will get the most out of your low cost landlord insurance.

Types of residential landlord insurance policies


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Those who are landlords and landladies will know the importance of having good insurance cover when renting out a property. Whether you have hundreds of properties, or are simply renting out your outhouse, you need to be covered in the event of an unexpected incident. Insurance can protect you financially if your property is in some way damaged. There are many different types of residential landlord insurance policies.

Perhaps the most used insurance is that which protects against loss of rent. If a tenant fails to pay their rent, and leaves the property without notifying you, so you can no longer contact them, you can claim the rent back on your insurance. This type of insurance can also help if your property becomes damaged and therefore uninhabitable for a period of time.

Most sensible landlords take out public liability insurance. This provides financial protection if a tenant gets injured whilst in your property, and you are found guilty of negligence. In the event that the tenant successfully sues you, your public liability insurance will deal with the financial costs of this.

Buildings insurance can help you financially if your property is damaged in any way. Typically, it covers you if there is a fire, a flood or a windstorm. A number of other risks can also be insured against; if there are any that are significant to your property in particular, it is wise to take out an insurance policy that protects against that risk.

Another popular type of residential landlord insurance policy is contents insurance. This insures you if any items (such as furniture) within the property were to be stolen or damaged. If you have a well-furnished property, or a number of expensive items, it is advisable to take out contents insurance.

What makes student landlord insurance different?


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If you own a property and plan to rent it out to students, it is advisable you take out student landlord insurance. This will help protect you financially if there is any problem with your property – for instance, if there is a fire, flood or burglary. Student landlord insurance can also help if items in your property get damaged, or if a student gets injured whilst in your property.

Student landlord insurance differs from standard landlord insurance in that it is typically more expensive. This is because students don’t make reliable tenants – they are more likely to cause damage to the property, or be irresponsible by (or example) leaving the door unlocked by accident. Therefore, the insurance company is taking a higher risk, so must charge more to make up for this. Of course, it is still possible to get a good deal on insurance if you shop around – look at companies online, possible using insurance comparison websites.

Landlord insurance for students usually provides cover for loss of rent as standard, as students can easily run short if money and be unable to pay. As well as this, they won’t be familiar with running a household, so may be lax with security. The student lifestyle of today could make the property prone to damage from teenage parties, another risk insurance companies must consider.

Some companies specialise in providing student landlord insurance. Getting insurance from providers like these is often cheaper, so be sure to check them out. Your landlord insurance will still cover the basics – cover against property damage through flood, storm or fire, theft, loss of rent and contents insurance. It is important to ensure all of these aspects are catered for. You don’t want to find yourself in a position where you don’t have the right protection when an incident takes place.

What should simple landlords insurance include?


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Questions to ask yourself if you need insurance for buy to let properties

When letting a property, it’s important to ensure that if anything goes wrong, it can be fixed. You can’t leave anything to chance, especially if the property is there as a primary source of income for you. Suddenly losing tenants, or facing huge costs due to damage or your legal liability for injury, could be problematic. Hence, one of the first questions to ask yourself if you need insurance for buy to let properties is if you can survive financially if you suddenly lose income on the property.

Whether you’re the landlord of many properties, or just one or two, you need to make sure you’re covered for any potential loss of income. Without an insurance policy, you could essentially lose your whole income due to damage. If your property is unusable, and you can’t afford to fix it, then you will not be receiving any kind of income in the near future. Hence, an insurance policy would stop this from occurring.

Another thing to ask yourself is this: ‘What kind of insurance do I need?’ For a landlord that is renting out property without any inner furnishings and fittings, then a completely different kind of insurance will be required. If you, as a landlord, are expecting your tenant to furnish the property themselves, then it is not your responsibility to pay out for content insurance. Why? Because you don’t own the contents.

If, however, you are renting out a fully-furnished property, then you need to ensure you have contents insurance. Otherwise, you’ll be taking a really rather large risk. Should the property be damaged by burglary or a fire, you will be responsible for the replacement of the furniture for the sake and comfort of your tenants. Otherwise, you’ll probably lose them.

Landlordbuddy.co.uk is a trading style of NISEM Limited, company registration number NI070215. We are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, number 502872, for insurance mediation. The contents of this website, which are not financial advice, are aimed at UK residents. Always read the policy documents before buying a contract of insurance, to ensure the policy meets your needs.