Q: My landlord just demanded that I pay him $4600 to insure his building. I can get this for $2300. Can I force him reduce?
My lease requires me to pay the cost of this insurance but the landlord is not shopping this policy and is sticking me with his insurer that doesn’t specialize in restaurants with full liquor license. He demanded that I pay $4600 with my last rent payment and I did this. My hope is that he can cancel the current policy and give me a refund or credit for the excessive premium he is forcing me to pay.
A:
Call me cynical, but I've got more questions than answers.
Did he give you a copy of the bill for the premium he said he paid? If not, demand one.
Did he give you a copy of the policy? If not, demand a copy and see what it covers and the extent of coverage. Your lease should specify the amounts of coverage the policy must have -- does the policy he got exceed these amounts?
Does the lease say you provide the policy (which typically means you pick it out and pay for it, then provide him a copy) or does it say he provides the policy and you reimburse him? It should specify one or the other.
He has no incentive to cancel the policy now that you've reimbursed him for it.
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