Haynes: You don’t spoil a winning formula but you do make important improvements around the edges
New and existing private sector landlords can expect much more from their revised ARAG legal protection policy without ever making a claim. Landlords Legal Solutions has been completely re-written and now includes more free legal documents from its digital documents service as well as higher benefits and fewer restrictions or excesses.
“Our landlords’ policy was already the complete package”says ARAG head of underwriting & marketing, David Haynes.
“You don’t spoil a winning formula but you do make important improvements around the edges. Key to this approach is the use of even clearer language, generous uplifts in benefits and the removal of excesses or other complications.
“We want policyholders to know exactly what they are getting cover for and to make use of the free added-value services such as helplines and document services. Experience tells us that these additional services are highly valued, giving significant peace-of-mind to landlords, and helping agents retain business even when no claim has been made.”
Substantial increases have been made to benefits. Alternative accommodation for landlords when vacant possession is impossible now stands at up to £175 per day, maximum £5250, with storage refunds up to a maximum of £300 also being covered.
Standard cover includes: repossession; property damage, nuisance and trespass (now without any excess); recovery of rent arrears; accommodation and storage costs; prosecution defence; plus the landlords’ legal service website online law guide, monthly newsletter, tax and 24-hour legal helplines. Legal documents available free to landlords now include the licence agreement to rent a room, plus the most commonly needed customisable texts such as the initial letter concerning rent arrears, the demand for rent from tenants, plus section 8 and 21 notices(notice to quit, notice of repossession).
Three optional extensions remove worries over non-payment of rent, disputes over contracts or the tax affairs of the policyholder. Rental indemnities are offered with a choice of compensation for 5 of the first six months in arrears or 11 out of 12 months on a yearly option. Contracts for such work as construction, or designing, converting or extending any building, are covered up to £6000 including VAT. The cost of defending investigations into landlords’ tax affairs by HMRC can also be added to the cover.
