Addept Insurance launches rental fraud protection for landlords

Addept Insurance has launched a specialist landlord legal product addressing the impact of property title fraud and illegal sub-letting by tenants. 

Called Rental Fraud Defence, the proposition provides cover for the legal costs associated with the illegal transfer of a property ownership or a tenant renting out part or all of a rental property without obtaining the landlord’s explicit consent.

The legal costs covered include those to reinstate a property’s title, deal with organisations who are advertising the property for let or sale or who are providing credit, goods or services, regain lawful possession and deal with county court judgements and liaison with credit agencies.

It is currently available as an add-on or can be embedded in an underlying landlord’s buildings insurance policy.

Meanwhile, there is also the option to include title guardian 24/7 digital anti-fraud property monitoring to further support landlords to mitigate the risks. 

Secured schemes

Addept Insurance has also secured the first two rental fraud defence schemes.  

MGA Lares Services is using the cover to enrich its core buildings insurance policy and Modus has embedded the cover on certain products.

Richard Finan, managing director at Addept Insurance, said: “The private rented sector is particularly vulnerable to the risk of title fraud, particularly where properties are buy-to-let, empty, mortgage free or are of high value.

”Illegal sub-letting is also a growing issue for the UK residential property sector where tenants can profit significantly from unauthorised sub-letting. Standard landlord buildings policies and traditional landlords’ legal expenses insurance do not provide protection for these kinds of risks. Rental Fraud Defence is designed to directly address the gap in protection for the financial and legal liabilities landlord face.”