What is landlord insurance?

Landlord insurance covers the risks you face when letting or leasing a property that standard building and contents insurance may not cover. Also known as buy-to-let insurance, it covers you for damage to the buildings or to your contents against a range of unexpected events such as flood, fire, burst pipes, or storms.

You can also choose from several optional covers, such as accidental damage, loss of rent, landlord emergency, and legal expenses cover, which cover the costs and expenses associated with a range of legal matters, including contract disputes, tax and VAT investigations, repossession, and eviction of squatters.

What does landlord insurance cover in the UK?

landlord insurance offers high levels of standard cover for your building, fixtures and fittings, and contents. It also covers certain types of equipment like your boiler and heating systems with equipment breakdown cover. Plus, you have the option to increase limits and extend your cover if you need to. There's also the flexibility to lower your excess for a higher premium or increase your excess for a lower premium - whatever works for you.

What's included as standard with our landlord insurance for your buildings:

• Structural damage to the building - after an insured event such as fire, lightning, an explosion or earthquake, riot, civil disturbance, malicious damage caused by a person unlawfully on your property, storm, flood, subsidence, landslip and ground heave, impact, theft, escape of water.
• Damage caused by escape of water - including burst pipes, leaking water tanks, or escape of oil from any oil-fired heating installation.
• The cost of temporary alternative accommodation for your tenants - this is available if the property isn't fit to live in after an insured event - such as a flood or fire. Cover is up to the building sum insured (rebuild value) on your policy.
• Public Liability cover of £2million with the option to increase - if you're sued for damage to someone else's property or a tenant or tradesperson is injured after an accident at your rental property, you're covered. For example, if your tenant trips over an uneven patio stone, you'll be insured for the legal costs.
• Glass and sanitary ware following breakage.
• Locks and keys replacement - if keys are lost or if they're copied by an unauthorised person - up to £15,000 per claim.

Frequently asked questions about landlord insurance:

What type of landlord insurance do I need?

The type of landlord insurance you need will differ depending on your requirements. There are three levels of landlord insurance: buildings, contents, and leaseholders' fixtures and fittings, which cover insured events such as fire, flood, or theft.

Buildings insurance covers damage to or loss of the property's structure. Contents insurance covers damage to or loss of the landlord's possessions, like furniture, left within the property.

Leaseholders' fixtures & fittings insurance covers the fixed fittings within a property, like bathroom suites or kitchen units, where cover is excluded under the main buildings insurance policy, which has been arranged for a block of flats. You can combine your insurance cover, such as buildings and contents if you need to cover both the property structure and possessions in the property.

What do I need to get a landlord insurance quote?

To get a quote, you need to enter your details and any past claims history, as well as the details of the property and the tenants you are renting to. You would need property details, including the rebuild value, age, and construction of the property.

Is it a legal requirement to have landlord insurance in the UK?

It is not a legal requirement to have landlord insurance in the UK. However, it is highly recommended if you want to protect your property and finances. Some mortgage lenders may require landlords to have landlord insurance to come to a mortgage agreement.