<Landlord Insurance

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Landlord insurance is cover you can take out for residential or commercial properties you rent out.

Sometimes called buy-to-let or property rental insurance, landlord insurance is a broad term used to describe a range of cover that protects you against the risks that come with being a landlord. 

Landlord insurance can cover you, your income, the buildings in your portfolio, and their fixtures, fittings and contents. 

It’s not a legal requirement to have landlord insurance, but you may need it if you want to take out a buy-to-let mortgage to purchase the property. Check your mortgage terms and requirements carefully to see if it is needed.

Even without a mortgage lender, it's worth considering landlord insurance because it can provide more relevant cover than regular home insurance. This applies whether you're renting to paying tenants or family members. 

Will regular home insurance cover me?

No, regular home insurance is unlikely to cover you, because you’re not living at the property. You don’t know whether your tenant is causing any damage and can’t rely on your tenants to address issues before they spiral and get worse. 

Worse still, if your tenant is injured inside your rental property, you may have to compensate them from your own pocket if you don’t have the correct landlord insurance.

If you have a holiday home, you’re likely to need holiday let insurance rather than landlord insurance.

What type of cover can be included with landlord insurance?

How much you need to pay depends on a range of factors, including:

  • The level of cover - Costs will rise if you add on extras

  • Your property’s age – your premium can be affected by the year your property was built

  • Your claims history – previous claims could potentially have an effect on your premium

How can I save money on landlord house insurance?

There are a few steps you can take to make extra savings on your landlord insurance.

Keep your property in good condition

--Keeping on top of repairs and maintenance can reduce the likelihood of needing to make a claim.--

Choose tenants wisely

--You pay more for cover when letting to certain types of people. For example, insurers view students sharing as a higher risk than a professional couple.--

Don't pay for unnecessary buildings insurance

--If you are letting out a flat, the building’s freeholder should already have buildings insurance, so you might not need separate cover.--

Think carefully about what extras you need

--Only pay for the cover you need.--

Before comparing quotes and taking out a policy, gather the information you need to apply for landlord insurance. This includes:

  • The address of the property

  • When it was built

  • The cost of rebuilding the property (work this out with the help of a rebuild calculator)

  • The type of tenants in the property and the length of their tenancy agreement

It’s simple to make a claim on your landlord insurance, simply contact your insurer either online, by phone or by sending an email and explain the circumstances of your claim.

Although it’s easy to make claims, insurers may take some time to process them, so always submit them as soon as possible. There might be a time limit on claims too, such as 30 days, so don't delay if you think you have a case.

Depending on the nature of your claim, for example if it's for damage or theft, you may also need to obtain a crime reference number - you can do this by making a report to the police. 

It’s important to make sure you read your policy thoroughly to understand what its terms and conditions are before making a claim.

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About the author

Joe Phelan profileJoe Phelan
Joe joined the money.co.uk team in 2024, where he helps small business owners navigate the often confusing world of business finance. His role is to cut through the jargon and create clear, actionable content that empowers entrepreneurs to make confident financial decisions.