This article is an external press release originally published on the Landlord News website, which has now been migrated to the Just Landlords blog.
Malicious damage to their rental property features in the top three most common insurance claims by landlords, Total Landlord Insurance has revealed.
The company have analysed claims from the last two years, and found that those made in regard to malicious damage add up to £700,000. Tenants cause most malicious damage.1
However, lots of landlords are not protected against malicious damage in their cover.
CEO of Total Landlord Insurance, Eddie Hooker, explains: “Malicious damage is not always covered on standard landlord policies, and those that do often only protect against malicious damage caused by a third party, such as someone putting a brick through the window, not damage caused by the tenant.”
It has been revealed that there are significantly more claims for malicious damage than for accidental damage, which comparatively amounted to £50,000.1
Claims for malicious damage feature broken windows, trashed properties, and deliberate theft or fire of the building’s fixtures.
Hooker continues: “Where student properties are concerned, protecting against malicious damage is even more important, and not just because the perception of students is not always positive, but because their leases are often shorter term and their properties tend to remain empty over holiday periods, putting them at greater risk.”1
In response to their findings, Total Landlord Insurance is enlisting the advice from industry experts. Paul Shamplina of tenant eviction specialists Landlord Action, and Accommodationforstudents.com’s Simon Thompson will appear in their next live web show.
The show is scheduled for 30th August at 7pm, and will discuss dreadful tenants and finding the best tenants.