A landlord’s job is much more complicated than what you might initially imagine. There are so many things that have to be done and it is very difficult to take care of everything when the managed property is large. Fortunately, there are so many things that landlords can do in order to make their job easier. Deacon.co.uk offers the following tips that should always be known.
Get Landlords Insurance
No matter what you might believe, landlords insurance is mandatory. Remember that regular home insurance is not valid when the property is rented out. Specialist insurance is necessary to protect both the tenants and you.
Loss Of Rent Coverage
We live in very tough times because of the covid-19 pandemic but this is not the first time the real estate injury was hit. This is why there are many different insurance policies in place to protect owners, tenants and landlords. One of the very important policies is the loss of rent coverage. This protects by offering income whenever properties are uninhabitable.
You can also consider the use of tenant default insurance. This protects rental income in the event that tenants do not manage to pay rent. What is really important is to talk with the letting agent in order to make sure that tenant default cover is offered. This might be in place and you are not aware of it. Also, it is possible that the coverage does not apply. As an example, if the policy requires the presence of tenant reference check and it was not done, compensation is not offered.
Liability Insurance
Liability insurance for landlords protects them if there are compensation claims that are made by visitors or tenants for damage or injury caused while on the property. For instance, this is a policy that activates when an individual trips over a carpet and ends up injured. Never underestimate what accidents can happen without any prior signs of danger. You are liable if accidents happen on your property and there could have been anything you could have done to avoid it.
Rebuild Value
The property is insured for an amount. This amount is based on property rebuild value, which means how much it costs to rebuild everything from zero, including materials and labour. The rebuild value should never be calculated based on market value. Surveyors need to be consulted in order for a proper rebuilding value to be estimated. Alternatively, the insurer most likely has contact with such surveyors and can be contacted.
Always Protect The Property
Landlords have to do all that is necessary to protect the property. This includes tasks like installing smoke detectors, window locks, door locks, and security alarms. You need to protect the property and the tenants. Also, when you show proof that you took steps to protect the rental property, insurance policies are cheaper.
Final Thoughts
Landlords have a lot of work to do in order to protect the property and all the tenants. It is very difficult to keep up with all the laws that change more often than imagined. However, it is a necessity.
