The warning follows a landlord paying out thousands to repair leaking guttering at a block of leasehold flats to stop water damaging his own apartment.
Blocked with a Persian carpet, table and newspapers, the overflowing gutters let water into his flat, damaging plaster and decorations.
The landlord won £2,000 for damage to his flat, but the rest of the claim was refused because the roof and guttering at the root of the problem belonged to the freeholder.
However, the landlord paid for the repairs to stop continuing damage because he could not contact the freeholder – who appears to have been absent for at least five years.
Insurers explained a leasehold property owner must look after the inside of the flat, and landlord buy to let insurance only covers damage to his contents, fixtures and fittings.
The freeholder should insure the rest of the building. The policy will look after claims relating to common areas, like paths, corridors, stairs, lifts, windows and the roof. The insurance also covers fire, subsidence, and flood.
Any claims relating to the building outside a flat should be made against the freeholder’s insurance.
"Check any lease agreement to see who is responsible for maintenance and insurance of the building,” said a spokesman.
“The majority of the time this will be the freeholder, but occasionally this can be the leaseholder or a specially formed management company to which leaseholders make contributions to a fund which deals with these expenses.
“Also, make sure you know who the freeholder/management company of the building are, where they are and their contact details, should you need to get in touch with them."
