Housing Advice Service

Insurance

We advise every tenant have their own contents insurance

There are many instances where no one is to blame for damage, for example burst pipes, overflowing washing machines, burglary, vandalism, severe weather conditions or storms. This is why it is advisable for tenants to have their own insurance particularly those living in flats.

Contents insurance includes liability cover for the protection of the insured party against claims being made against them, for example a tap accidentally left on flooding the flat below.

The tenant in the flooded flat or their insurer will seek compensation from the tenant responsible for the damage. Where the tenant has contents insurance such claims will be dealt with by their insurer.

We strongly urge every tenant to take out contents insurance

We have endorsed a contents insurance package run by Jardine Lloyd Thompson which gives all tenants, leaseholders and right to buy property residents access to contents insurance at a reasonable price. The help line number for this scheme is 0845 601 7007.

Application forms can be downloaded or alternatively collected from Barking Learning Centre, 90 Stour Road or your local library. Barking and Dagenham Direct on 020 8215 3002 can send you the details in the post.

We insure our council homes, however, we do not insure any of the contents that belong our tenants.

Insurance claims against the council

Council tenants may claim against us where they feel that the damage or injury has been caused by the negligence of us or our employees.

Compensation will only be payable following investigations were it is established that there is a liability on the part of us.

What to do if damage is caused by a contractor

Where damage or injury is caused by a contractor the responsibility for dealing with claims is that of the contractor. Tenants who suffer damage or injury caused by a contractor should make their claim direct to the contractor because all contractors have their own insurances to cover such events.