Insurance and the law

Landlord and Tenants Act 1985

Section 30A: Right of leaseholders in respect of insurance.

Gives leaseholders the following rights:

1. Right to summery the insurance cover
2. Right to inspect the insurance policy
3. Right to information when there is a superior landlord.
4. Right for a leaseholder to notify an insurer of a claim
5. Right to challenge a landlord over choice of insurer.

An individual leaseholder or the secretary of a recognised tenants’ association can ask the landlord for a written summary  which should be sent to the leaseholder free of charge.

You can also ask the landlord and are entitled to inspect and take copies of the policy.

The request must be made in writing and the landlord must comply within 21 days. Your landlord can only be required to provide the summary once in each insurance period (usually a year).

Engineering equipment

The items listed below have to be inspected, either as a legal requirement or to comply with other statutes and, not least, to meet the requirements of your insurance policy.

LOLER – Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998

Passenger lifts – Every 6 months

Goods lifts – Annually

Lifting accessories (tackle) – Every 6 months

Vehicle lifts – Every 6 months

Window cleaning gantry – Annually

PSSR – Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000

Steam boilers and steam ovens – Every 14 months

Any equipment operated by steam – Every 26 months

Hot water boilers (>100°C) – Every 14 months

Other pressure systems – Every 26 months

Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

Electrical installations & equipment – Every 5 years

Electric gates and barriers – Every 12 months