Leaseholder's insurance

The leasehold building insurance policy is administered by the council on behalf of our insurers, Aspen.

Building insurance cover

The Leaseholder's Summary of Cover is sent out to all leaseholders at the start of the financial year and should be read in accordance with the Aspen policy document.

The summary of cover list the perils which are covered by the policy, the sum insurance and the premium which leaseholders pay with their service charges.

'Sum Insured' is the maximum extent of an insurers' liability under a contract of indemnity. Indemnity is the legal principal which ensures that an insured is restored to the same financial position as he was immediately prior to the loss.

Every year we send to all leaseholders a copy of their building insurance schedule with details of the policy coverage and how to make a claim. We ask leaseholders to keep hold of these details so that they have all of the information to hand in the event that they need to make a claim.

You can request a copy of your building insurance schedule from Lambeth risk and insurance on 020 7926 9330. You should keep your building insurance cover in a safe place.

Making a building insurance claim

A leaseholder can make a claim against their leasehold building insurance policy by calling the insurers, Aspen, directly on the 24-hour a day claims helpline on telephone: 08705 21 22 23 providing their name, leasehold property address and policy number (which is NO8998408AOQ).

All claims must be made within 90 days of the damage occurring. Failure to notify the insurers within 90 days from date of occurrence will invalidate your claim on the grounds of late notification.

You are not required to complete a claim form or provide estimates of damage. Once reported to the insurers they will deal directly with the leaseholder regarding the claim and they will advise whether the damage is included under the policy cover and on how to carry out repairs etc.

If you have any queries regarding your claim you will need to contact Aspen directly on the above number quoting your claim reference number, name, leasehold property address and policy number.

If you are not satisfied with the way your enquiry was dealt with, then quoting the policy no. please write to:

The Chief Executive
Aspen Insurance UK Limited
30 Fenchurch Street
London, EC3M 3BD

If you are dissatisfied with their response, you may write to the Risk and Insurance section.

You will have to pay the first £50 of each and every claim for accidental damage and £1,000 of each and every loss for subsidence, landslip and heave. If you are subletting your property your policy will also include the accidental damage cover. 

Where a leak has occurred on a leasehold flat causing structural damage to the property below, the proprietors of the damaged property should contact either of the following:

• Leaseholders: contact Aspen on the 24-hour-a-day claims helpline on telephone: 08705 21 22 23. For general advice you may wish to contact Risk and Insurance on 020 7926 9330
• Tenants: contact Lambeth Housing Services on 020 7926 6000.

As a leaseholder, you are covered for damage to your window or door glass. It is Lambeth Council’s responsibility, as the freeholder, to maintain the frames and the roof.

Home contents insurance

The council does not insure any of the home contents that belong to a leaseholder. The leaseholder is responsible for ensuring they have adequate contents insurance cover to safeguard their personal belongings.

For more information on contents insurance, phone 020 7926 6000 or visit the Home Insurance page for an application form.

Subletting your property

You must always notify the council and complete an Intention to sublet form, which is available by contacting the Risk and Insurance section on 020 7926 9330.

The completed sublet form should be returned to:

Risk and Insurance Section
3rd Floor Olive Morris House
18 Brixton Hill
London SW2 1RL

If you sublet your property, you are responsible for ensuring that the let conforms to the Lambeth Council lease agreement.

The property shall be let for no less than six months.

Failure to notify of a sublet property could invalidate the building insurance policy of that property.

A formal tenancy agreement shall exist between the owner and the tenant and you should obtain references of your future tenants.

Leasehold enquiries

You can make an enquiry or update your details in relation to your leasehold insurance using our leasehold insurance enquiry form.

Frequently Asked Questions