Home contents insurance

[CatB]

I share a rented flat with a friend of mine and have had trouble finding an insurance company who will provide contents insurance for joint policy holders who are not a couple (unmarried couples fine, friends not fine apparently!).

We really don't want to go for the stupidly overpriced student type room insurance for each of us because that then won't cover things in the common areas or things taken out of the house etc. We had good cover last year from Prudential but our renewal quote is nearly 50% higher this year despite not claiming on it! It also doesn't cover one or two things that I'd like it to (like my bike which lives inside the house).

So... any suggestions for other companies to try?

[Scuttler]

Have you thought of just one of you getting the insurance to cover both of your possessions and then splitting the bill.

Alternatively just tell them you're a couple!

[CatB]

We have considered just having the one policy holder but legally I think we'd be on dodgy ground because as I understand it you can't insure something that isn't yours and if we had a major claim to make half the stuff would clearly be duplicated and with receipts in her name etc.

As for being a couple we considered claiming that too! But again it would be pretty easy to demonstrate that we are not and they then wouldn't pay out.

[divingdancer]

try HISCOX they are pretty good

[Gav]

Originally Posted by WannabeMermaid

We have considered just having the one policy holder but legally I think we'd be on dodgy ground because as I understand it you can't insure something that isn't yours and if we had a major claim to make half the stuff would clearly be duplicated and with receipts in her name etc.

As for being a couple we considered claiming that too! But again it would be pretty easy to demonstrate that we are not and they then wouldn't pay out.

Think you're correct as you may fall foul of "insurable interest". I'll have a word with a Company I know who are pretty flexible about most things.

[Arfie]

Is it self contained or do you have shared facilities?

If it's self contained, I'll check a couple of companies out that I deal with, if it's not self contained the ones I deal with will not do it.

You could always try ringing the Pru and saying you have had a quote over the phone from Hiscox or Towergate or someone for a few quid less than you paid last year with cover for your bike included. They will sometimes match premiums to keep an existing customer.

Arfie

[CatB]

Thanks guys, I'll check out Hiscox and Towergate.

My flatmate and I share a self contained flat with it's own living room, bathroom etc and a locked front door. However the problem seems to be that we are two unrelated people living in this flat. The living room, kitchen etc has a mixture of stuff owned by us both and we'd like to be joint policy holders (then in the event of a claim we could claim for the lot and sort it out between us)- I rather get the impression that the insurance companies don't trust us not to steal each others stuff or something similar!

[lloydwatkin]

Originally Posted by WannabeMermaid

But again it would be pretty easy to demonstrate that we are not and they then wouldn't pay out.

Why's that then? Not game

Had some mates that pretended to be a gay couple to get cheaper car insurance. Fair play I say!

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by lloydwatkin

Why's that then? Not game

Had some mates that pretended to be a gay couple to get cheaper car insurance. Fair play I say!

Yeah but you are rooted if you get caught. And the time they catch you will be the time you need to make a claim, which means you've got only the clothes you're wearing because the place has burned down. That would be a mugs game.

[Arfie]

OK, I've just spoken to Paymentshield a company I deal with, who have said that so long as the flat is completely self contained, they are OK with it.

They have no issue with any relationship (or lack of) between you and your friend and you can be joint policyholders. To be honest, it's no different to an unmarried couple in their first home, some things are his, some are hers, some may be bought together.

And they can cover pedal cycles, depending on the cover you want.

I don't know if they sell direct to the public or if you have to go through an intermediary, but here's their website Paymentshield

Arfie