Landlord insurance: what buy-to-let property owners need — and what standard home cover misses
A standard home insurance policy is not designed for let properties and will typically be voided if you rent to tenants. Landlord insurance bundles the covers most buy-to-let owners need — buildings, landlord's contents, property owner's liability, and loss of rent — into a single policy.
What landlord insurance typically includes
Buildings cover
Covers the structure against fire, flood, storm, subsidence, and other insured perils. The sum insured should reflect the rebuild cost, not the market value. See our article on home rebuild costs.
Landlord's contents
Covers furnishings, appliances, and fittings supplied by the landlord. Only relevant for furnished lets. Excludes the tenant's own possessions entirely.
Property owner's liability
Covers your legal liability if a tenant, visitor, or member of the public is injured on your property due to a structural failure or maintenance issue. Limits typically start at £2 million.
Loss of rent
Replaces rental income if the property is uninhabitable after an insured event. Usually limited to 12–24 months. Does not cover tenant rent arrears.
Optional covers worth considering
- Accidental damage: Covers unintentional damage caused by tenants — stained carpets, broken windows, damaged appliances. More relevant for furnished properties.
- Malicious damage by tenants: A separate extension that covers deliberate damage caused by tenants. Standard policies typically exclude intentional acts. Check whether this cover requires the tenants to have been evicted before the claim can be made.
- Legal expenses: Covers the cost of eviction proceedings, rent recovery action, and tenancy disputes. Particularly useful in markets with complex tenancy legislation.
- Unoccupancy extension: Standard policies typically exclude or restrict cover if the property is vacant for more than 30–60 days. If your property is between tenants, notify your insurer or ensure you have an unoccupancy extension.
For a detailed look at how tenant and landlord cover interact, see our guide to landlord insurance explained and the landlord vs renters' comparison.
Landlord insurance FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- No. Standard home insurance is written for owner-occupiers. If you rent your property to tenants without declaring it, you will likely be in breach of your policy conditions. The insurer may void the policy or refuse a claim. The change in occupancy — and the associated change in risk profile (higher vacancy rates, different use patterns, tenant behaviour) — is a material fact that must be disclosed. Even if you are temporarily renting while living elsewhere, notify your insurer.
- No. Landlord insurance covers the landlord's interests — the building, the landlord's own furnishings and fittings, property owner's liability, and loss of rental income. Tenants must arrange their own contents insurance for their personal possessions and their own personal liability. See our renters' insurance article and the landlord vs renters' guide for the full split.
- Loss of rent cover pays the landlord an equivalent of the rental income if the property becomes uninhabitable due to an insured event — typically fire, flood, or major structural damage — and tenants have to vacate. It is usually limited to a maximum period (often 12 to 24 months) and requires that the cause of uninhabitability was a covered peril under the policy. It does not cover rent arrears caused by a tenant failing to pay.
- For a leasehold flat, the freeholder or management company typically arranges buildings insurance for the whole block — you pay a service charge contribution towards it. You may still need landlord insurance for your own contents (furnishings in a furnished let), property owner's liability, and loss of rent cover. Check whether the freeholder's buildings policy extends to cover your specific obligations as a landlord and whether you need a separate top-up policy.