do you have to have contents insurance?

[dilligaf72]

A friend at work has recently received a phone call on behalf of his landlord saying that he should think about getting contents insurance for his flat and even recommended a company for him to go through, my friend has been a tenant for about 3 years it is a privately rented flat in a block he has no time limit on his lease (he can keep the tenancy as long as he wants) he`s pretty sure there is nothing about getting insurance in his tenancy agreement, but the person on the phone pretty much said he may lose his tenancy if he doesn't get the insurance he doesn't want a policy and he doesn't need the extra expense, is this legal? can they force him to take out a policy or evict him.

[McMouse]

Contents insurance is not compulsory. Most landlords will insure their buildings and recover the premium through rent.

[woofgang]

the landlord might be getting cheaper buildings insurance if he can persuade tenants to do contents with the same firm or it might be the insurer doing a bit of business for himself....has he checked with the landlord about this...There may be data protection act issues if the landlord gave tenant information to an insurance firm for this purpose; or if the firm used the information given by the landlord for a purpose other than the one it was given for.

[Jan1957]

I have been renting for the last couple of years and it is entirely up to the tenant whether they want to take out contents insurance. Does the landlord own some of the contents or is it part-furnished? If so, the landlord should have his own insurance for his own contents but can not insist on you taking out insurance for yours. Personally, if they called again I would lie and say I already had contents insurance. They have no right to see this or for you to have to prove it.

[brenda]

A load of bo**ox Your friend can take out his own contents insurance , nowt to do with the landlord. Check the lease agreement , there should not be any clauses relevant to the way a tenant insures his/her items.

[welshlibranr]

I don't think they can force him, unless it's in the small print of his tenancy agreement? however, it's a good idea to have it!...............I have one that covers accidental damage too, and it cover everything!...............costs about £11 a month! so well worth having!..............

[joko]

impending insurance claim scam? could the landlord be intending to damge the house to make a false claim...but doesnt want to leave the tenant with ruined belongings and no way to replace them...?

[trt]

Blimey welshlibranr, that's expensive have you got a mansion.
I only pay £45 a year for £50,000 cover.