ian
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36 Indre
Posts: 42
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Post by ian on Jan 28, 2024 20:00:03 GMT 1
I am resident in France - have been for years - pay my taxes here. I also own a flat in the UK which I rent out. I declare the rental income (paid gross) every year to HMRC. No problems.
Someone has suggested that, because I'm not UK resident, my landlord insurance (buildings and content) may be invalid. I'll find that out tomorrow with a phone call. If that is in fact the case, can anybody suggest who I can use? I can't be alone in this.
Thanks
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mysty
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Post by mysty on Jan 28, 2024 20:09:12 GMT 1
I used to have UK life assurance through a broker in Jersey but that got stopped years ago because I was not resident in the UK so quite possible.
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Post by houpla on Jan 28, 2024 20:10:31 GMT 1
Far from alone! Over the years of renting out a UK property while resident in France, it became more and more difficult to get cover. By the time we sold in 2021 there was literally only one Company that would quote. I'm surprised that you've not encountered problems before now, but perhaps they're not aware that you're French resident? The broker we used was Orwell Insurance Services Ltd. Underwritten by Channel Syndicate 2015 @ Lloyds.
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JohnnyD
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Mayenne (53) When Covid allows..........Which isn't very often these days........
Posts: 2,015
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Post by JohnnyD on Jan 28, 2024 20:11:06 GMT 1
If it is invalid, you could go through a UK letting agency maybe and get them to cover all of that?
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ian
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36 Indre
Posts: 42
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Post by ian on Jan 28, 2024 20:23:43 GMT 1
Given I gave the flat's address as mine, they may well be unaware! Which is why I'm worrying. I'm using a letting agency at the moment (last tenant left, amicably, two months ago) to advise on reletting. If the telephone call tomorrow ends as I suspect it will, I'll ask them to solve the problem. If push comes to shove, maybe I can use my sister (UK resident) to act as front?
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Post by houpla on Jan 28, 2024 20:27:09 GMT 1
If you want to cheat, fine, but in the event of a claim I suspect that it will backfire rather expensively.
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mysty
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Posts: 1,321
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Post by mysty on Jan 28, 2024 20:30:28 GMT 1
France has it's quirks as well insurance wise as a marchand de biens for buying selling or renting land I cannot have any empty property owned in the company name insured.
So all our empty properties are uninsured which is technically illegal in France but no company will offer cover at any price.
It does get embarrassing when we use a new notaire and they ask for a copy of the insurance or will you keep the insurance cover until the buyer has insurance.
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Post by tim17 on Jan 28, 2024 20:37:38 GMT 1
We've been letting properties in the UK for 30 years and have never come across this, our insurers (Aviva) were fully aware we lived abroad at the time and it didn't stop us getting cover nor making claims.
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ian
Member
36 Indre
Posts: 42
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Post by ian on Jan 28, 2024 20:48:46 GMT 1
Tim17, that's very encouraging. It indicates that tomorrow's phone call may be a damp squid. If my insurers turn out to be negative, I'll try Aviva.
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exile
Member
Massif Central
Posts: 2,693
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Post by exile on Jan 28, 2024 21:38:11 GMT 1
We've been letting properties in the UK for 30 years and have never come across this, our insurers (Aviva) were fully aware we lived abroad at the time and it didn't stop us getting cover nor making claims. Things h ave changed I think Tim.
Brexit probably means a UK insurer should not be able to insure a permanent French resident. It may just be that because the insured item is in the UK that this is still allowed under UK regulations.
Further, services such as insurance were never permitted cross border within the EU* and they seem to be tightening up on this. So for example my worldwide accident and emergency cover with the German version of the AA - ADAC - has been withdrawn after 8 years of being permanently in France.
* So in fact even pre-Brexit it was possibly not allowed |
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Post by tim17 on Jan 28, 2024 22:26:09 GMT 1
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ian
Member
36 Indre
Posts: 42
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Post by ian on Jan 29, 2024 8:14:28 GMT 1
Given I'm with Directline, looks like I'm OK. Phew, that's a (big) relief.
Thanks, everybody.
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Post by limousinlady on Jan 29, 2024 9:10:57 GMT 1
Given I'm with Directline, looks like I'm OK. Phew, that's a (big) relief. Thanks, everybody. @ Ian, are you speaking about landlord's insurance or building insurance? If it is building insurance, the freeholder's insurance, where a flat is concerend, covers most of the major perils, escape of water, fixtures and fittings. Check with them. I did take landlord's insurance, through Simply Business, but it turned out a waste of time when I needed it most, but not because of my residency. @ Mysty, I had life assurance with LV before I became French resident and enquiring with them about after I changed they said it didn't matter as it was already in place. I had that confirmed in writing. |
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JohnnyD
Member
Mayenne (53) When Covid allows..........Which isn't very often these days........
Posts: 2,015
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Post by JohnnyD on Jan 29, 2024 10:17:07 GMT 1
Given I'm with Directline, looks like I'm OK. Phew, that's a (big) relief. Thanks, everybody. I would still call them to make sure all is ok Ian, make sure you have the correct cover etc, they will use any excuse to not pay out. |
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