Blocks of Flats Insurance for Freeholders

Organising quotes and the buildings insurance for leasehold flats and apartments, often known as “block of flats insurance” or “block of flats building insurance”, is a big responsibility.   We understand that.

From a small block of two flats in a converted house to more than 200 flats in a purpose built block, we’ve specialised in providing blocks of flats insurance policies for more than 30 years.  It’s what we do every working day, every week of the year.

You may be the director of a Residential Management Company (RMC) or Right to Manage Company (RTM), member of a Residents Association, a leaseholder, a property manager, or simply a resident who has volunteered to organise the buildings insurance and obtain block of flats insurance quotes for comparison.

We know that cover and price are important to you, and we will search our panel of well-known insurers to find you an appropriate level of cover at a competitive price – so you don’t have to.

We provide cover for properties of standard and non-standard construction, including listed buildings, as well as unoccupied property.  From small converted houses to large detached properties, warehouse and loft conversions, to purpose built blocks of all sizes.  In city centres and historic market towns, to inland waterways and seaside destinations, to name but a few.

Arranging a block of flats insurance policy can be complicated.  It’s not like insuring a regular house.  A block policy provides property owners with protection.  Most notably, it can help provide funds to help with the cost of repairs if the property is damaged and even the cost to rebuild it in the event of what insurers call a ‘total loss’.

And it’s not just the building that can suffer from damage.  Do you have any landscaping, gardens, garages or outbuildings?  It’s worth checking to find out if these are covered on your block of flats insurance policy and, if not, you may be able to add them to it.

Block of flats insurance claims

Should the worst happen, if you need to make a claim, you’ll be guided step-by-step through the claims process by one of our experienced in-house claims team, based here in the UK, who specialise in blocks of flats insurance claims.  Together with the delegated authorities entrusted to us by our insurer partners, we aim to make your claims experience as quick and easy as possible. 

Blocks of flats insurance associated products

In addition to providing block of flats insurance, we also offer a range of associated products and services, from estate management and directors and officers insurance, to fire risk assessments, asbestos surveys and rebuild cost evaluations.  When was the last time you checked to see if your Buildings Declared Value (BDV) would cover you in the event of a total loss?

Benefits of our blocks of flats insurance cover for leaseholders

Arranging block of flats insurance cover can be complicated.  It’s not like insuring a regular house.

Any property comprising of two or more flats or apartments is considered a ‘block’ for insurance purposes.  And while every individual block of flats has its own unique set of risks, there is some cover you should expect to find in a standard block of flats insurance policy:

• Buildings including accidental damage, water damage, fire, theft, flood and storm
• Inflation protection of up to 50%. We use recognised independent price indices to amend your sums insured to reflect inflation, so you don’t have to
• Trace and access of leaks in service pipes.
• Communal contents including fitted carpets.
• Alternative accommodation or loss of rent.
• Outbuildings, such as garages, and communal gardens and grounds.
• One excess per incident so if damage affects several flats you are liable for only one excess per total claim.
• Replacement keys including keys to communal entrances.
• Employers liability to cover anyone working in communal areas
• Third party liability up to £10 million.

You won’t find us on comparison websites. Call us today for a no-obligation hassle free block of flats insurance quote.

Or, you can find out more about our block of flats insurance cover here

* Broker Claims Team of the Year 2016, The Insurance Times Awards.

Some of our partners

Other insurance products bought by customers

• We offer you comprehensive standard cover plus optional extras.
• We have more than 27 years’ experience specialising in blocks of flats insurance; covering properties of standard and non-standard construction, converted properties and listed buildings as well as purpose built blocks.
• As part of Arthur J. Gallagher, named one of the world’s most ethical companies again in 2016 and one of the largest insurance brokers in the world, you can be confident that we will be here for you when you need us most.
• Your own expert claims advisor, a member of our award-winning* claims team based in Bournemouth, will support you step-by-step from first notification to claims settlement. (*Broker Claims Team of the Year 2016)
• We provide a 24 hour claims service allowing you to report a claim 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Below are some of the questions we are often asked about blocks of flats insurance cover.

What is block of flats insurance?

It’s buildings insurance for a property containing more than one dwelling, e.g. flats and apartments.  It’s usually referred to as block insurance by insurers.  It can be for something as small as two flats in a converted house where the leaseholders may share the freehold ownership, to big purpose built blocks and converted building with multiple leaseholders.

What does buildings insurance cover in a block of flats?

It covers the cost of repairs to the fabric of your building if it is damaged by what is known as the insured perils such as fire, storm, flood and many other risks. The policy also usually covers loss of rent or alternative accommodation whilst repairs are being carried out following an insured loss, and your liabilities as a property owner to other parties if they are injured on your property. You should always check your policy to understand what is and what isn’t covered, as policies do differ.

What insurance do you need for a leasehold flat or apartment?

If you are the leaseholder of a flat then the building is normally insured by the freeholder or the residents own association therefore you would not necessarily have to arrange buildings insurance, but do check your lease. You may still have to contribute to the cost through your service charge and you’ll still need to arrange your own contents cover.

Is the leaseholder responsible for arranging buildings insurance?

The lease will stipulate who must insure the building. This normally states it is the freeholder’s responsibility, who will arrange the insurance and then include the cost in the service charge. However many leaseholders do combine together and form a Right to Manage (RTM) company or Residential Management (RMC) company, as part of this they can then elect to arrange the insurance themselves in the company name.

What is a common buildings insurance policy?

This term is often found in a lease. It is a term used to describe an insurance policy that is arranged to cover all the flats in a block or (blocks on an estate) under a single policy, rather than each leaseholder arranging their own policy. It can be beneficial to arrange insurance on a block as you will be sharing many aspects of the structure such as roofs, communal areas, roads, bin sheds etc. This helps avoid problems in the event of claims in determining to who is responsible for reinstating property following a loss or damage.

Do I need Directors & Officers cover as a director of a Right To Manage or Resident Management company?

If you’re a director or officer of a right-to-manage or residents’ association, you can be held legally liable for mistakes or oversights in the running of your company or association, even if you are a volunteer and not being paid. This could expose you to personal financial loss, which could be substantial. A Directors & Officers insurance policy can help protect you from this loss.

Is buildings insurance a legal requirement?

It’s not a legal requirement, but many property owners, including leaseholders who own flats and apartments, choose to take out buildings insurance to cover themselves against the cost of repairing damage to the building following an insured loss. It is usually a requirement of your mortgage lender that you adequately insure the building and without evidence of insurance you may be unlikely to get a mortgage.

If you can’t find an answer above please email your question to us at info@deacon.co.uk