It is important that you take out comprehensive contents insurance cover to include third party liability cover. This is particularly important if, for example, a spillage of water in your flat created damage in another flat where the buildings insurance has a high excess (in some buildings where there are frequent claims this can be as high as £1,000 per claim) and the third party liability cover would offer some safeguard subject to any excess applicable under such a policy.

Another example might, perhaps, be where there is water spillage from your flat causing damage to the contents of a flat below and where the flat contents are uninsured. Third party liability cover would certainly be advisable in such circumstances. It is a matter for you to check before taking out such cover or any policy providing such cover the extent of the cover provided.

If you have difficulty in obtaining the appropriate cover please contact an experienced broker. You may prefer to require that any sub-tenant(s) insures his or her furniture and effects (if letting un-furnished) on an appropriate all risks basis to include reasonable third party liability cover. It would not be unreasonable for you to request your tenant to supply you with a copy of the policy document and you should seek appropriate advice from your solicitor or letting agent.

You should ensure that your Building Society or lender consents to you sub-letting your flat and that any tenancy agreement you enter into with your sub-tenant includes an appropriate clause requiring your tenant to perform and observe the same covenants that you do under the terms of your lease (other than the covenants to pay maintenance charges and ground rent).

It would assist greatly in minimising the time taken to deal with emergencies if you would give details of any under-tenants and letting agent to the managing agent as soon as possible. Details should include contact telephone numbers for the tenants, e-mail addresses and similarly for the letting agent. It is good practice to leave a key, particularly if you are going to be away for any length of time, with a friend or neighbor and provide details to the managing agent accordingly.

Please note that it is simply not possible to provide comprehensive details of all situations where insurance cover may not be available other than by providing a full copy of the policy document.

The above is intended as a guide only and, as such with all insurance, terms and conditions may change from time to time.