Landlord insurance: what cover you actually need

Why standard cover isn't enough

A standard residential home insurance policy assumes the owner lives there. Once you let the property, that policy is usually invalidated. Landlord insurance is designed for the specific risks of letting — tenant damage, void periods, liability claims and loss of rent — and is widely required by buy-to-let mortgage lenders.

Buildings and contents cover

Buildings insurance covers the structure of the property against events such as fire, flood and subsidence — essential, and usually a mortgage condition. Contents cover protects items you provide (carpets, white goods, furniture in a furnished let); tenants insure their own belongings separately.

Useful add-ons

• Rent guarantee / loss of rent — pays out if a tenant defaults or the property is uninhabitable after an insured event.
• Legal expenses — covers the cost of possession proceedings and disputes.
• Property owners' liability — protects you if a tenant or visitor is injured and claims against you.
• Accidental and malicious damage — covers tenant-caused damage beyond the deposit.
• Home emergency — rapid response for boiler breakdowns, leaks and lockouts.

Liability cover

Property owners' liability is one of the most important elements: if someone is injured because of a defect in the property and you are found responsible, claims can be very large. Most landlord policies include several million pounds of liability cover as standard.

How compliance protects your policy