The Provision of Leasehold RTB Insurance

The London Borough of Newham (Contracting Authority) procured for the provision of its property insurance in respect of private dwellings sold on a leasehold basis, the majority of which were under the Right To Buy (RTB) legislation. The dwellings are flats in blocks and flats in houses (maisonettes), where the Contracting Authority still retain the freehold ownership and the leases state that the Contracting Authority, as the Freeholder, will arrange the buildings insurance on behalf of the Leaseholder and recharge the premium as part of the Service Charge. The portfolio comprises approximately 6,000 properties with a total sum insured of £1b. Other flats in some blocks have not been sold (Council tenanted) and are separately insured so insurance cover for these flats is not required. The number of properties change in the course of an insurance year as a result of the exercise of new rights to buy and buy-back of properties mainly within the Contracting Authority's regeneration area. The Contracting Authority's Insurance Department administers the process, including issuance and/or replacement of bespoke insurance documents.