It is a Landlord’s obligation to look after their premises along with the wellbeing of their tenants. I have recently instructed a complete survey of my properties after I heard that a close by Property owner was being sued for a physical injury claim following the high winds this year. Hopefully he’s got adequate landlords and public liability insurance. I met him at last year’s Property owners exhibit in London where we began talking after realising we both had properties in St Albans. We grew to become friends and meet up on regular occasions. Last week, he informed me of a problem he has with someone who’s one of his tenants after they got injured by a fallen roof tile. The tenant is now suing him for damages pertaining to harm to them personally as well as damage to their car, which had been parked out the front. He informed me how the tenant had left the property to attend his job during the high winds and while he was stood near the vehicle the winds lifted a few tiles which in turn slid off the roof. His tenant was wounded from the plummeting roof tiles and is currently off his job. On top of striking his tenant he has claimed for damage to his vehicle because the roof tiles damaged the bonnet and cracked his windshield.

Landlord’s Insurance
I was not shocked that the tenant was suing the property owner, but I did feel sorry for him as he was obviously a friend. However, he confesses that he hadn’t really checked the roof of the house which was built in the 1980s but said had he done this, he may have realised that a few of the roofing tiles needed care. This motivated me to call my own insurance broker and even tell him the story. My broker cautioned me that it could happen anda he concluded that I should arrange for my own properties (of a comparable age group) to get checked. He suggested a company he’s used before pertaining to roof damage claims and I contacted them to get a review. Thankfully the rooftops of my homes happen to be in excellent condition regarding their age and just needed minimal maintenance. I’m still happy that I talked to my fellow landlord and learned from his misfortune. I am hoping I’ve managed to avoid an insurance claim on my landlord and public liability insurance. My insurance broker was a genuine help as he described the ramifications, what I was insured for and advised the examination. If perhaps you’re concerned about your own properties, speak with your insurance broker and be sure you regularly maintain your properties to avoid claims such as this.

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