renting and insuring with a criminal convition

[Michelle142]

hey guys! i was convicted of ABH earlier this year and i am looking to move out with a few of my girlfriends, we found a house we want and everything has been arranged for us to move in!

the way it will work is we are not actually classed as tennants, we are just people living there who share the bills. so technically he is not my landlord and i am not his tennant, we are all house mates who share with the bills.

i have a few questions/concerns;

- do i have to tell my "landlord" about my conviction legally?
- will it void his house insurance?
- if i dont tell him, and legally im not obliged can he take me to court if something happens?

thanks in advance for any help!!!

[ubasses]

His insurance policy will ask the question of whether anyone living in the house has a criminal record, so yes he will have to know. If he has to make a claim and they find out they will not pay up.

[Michelle142]

yea thats what i figured. if he doesnt ask me tho, and i dont tell him can i get done for it? i have a contract to sign, if it doesnt ask then i wont tell.

[bednobs]

how are you not a tennant if you are signing a contract?

[NOX]

You are under no obligation to tell anyone about your criminal conviction whatsoever, and certianly if he doesn't ask, so don't do so.
With regards to insurance not paying out- there is a thing called disclosure- he CANNOT disclose your conviction to the insurance company if he does not know about it, so cannot be held responsible- it will not invalidate his insuranc at all if he does not know.

[twix123]

@NOX,
But should the insurers subsequently find out about the conviction they can void the policy for non disclosure and reclaim any amounts paid out under the policy.

[NOX]

No they can't- this exact situation went to court where the court found that, quite reasonably, you cannot disclose that which you don't know, therefore there had been no breach of disclosure because the originator of the policy was unaware- I'm sure you follow.

[noahboy]

OProblem is the 'landlord' should make reasonable enquiry. if he asks and is told nothingthen the last advice would be correct . problem you then face is you've committed a form of deception bridging on fraud.