Aug

‘Resentful’ tenants push up malicious damage insurance claims, latest research shows

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Frustrated and resentful tenants pushed up the number of malicious damage claims in lockdown, according to new research.

Total Landlord Insurance reports that landlord insurance claims increased by 13% during the pandemic from 536 to 603, with malicious tenant damage among the fastest growing causes, rising by 50% from 28 to 42 claims between 2019 and 2021.

Storm damage claims saw the biggest jump, up by 93% from 70 claims to 135.

During the pandemic, the average landlord insurance claim size also increased by 29% from £5,773 to £7,429.

A liability

The biggest rise was seen in liability insurance claims, up by 270% from £1,306 to £4,827, while the average claim for storm damage increased by 140%, break-in claims rose by 101%, and claims for underground services went up by 95%.

Melissa Choules (pictured, below), the lead claims specialist at Total Landlord Insurance, says the fact landlords were largely unable to gain access to their properties, along with the direct impact of the pandemic on tenants themselves, may have contributed to an increase in claims.

“With landlords also unable to maintain their rental properties for such a prolonged period, the average size of a claim has also increased as they look to rectify multiple years of damage and wear and tear,” she says.

“It’s also interesting to see such an increase in claims resulting from malicious damage. This could suggest that, during the pandemic, tenants were feeling increasingly frustrated, trapped, and unable to move.

“At the same time, some tenants might have grown to feel resentment towards landlords who still expected them to pay the rent as normal despite significant reductions in income and job security,” adds Choules.

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