Glossary · UK
What is Landlord Insurance?
A specialist insurance policy for rented property, combining buildings and (optionally) contents cover with landlord-specific risks such as loss of rent, malicious tenant damage and public liability.
Full Definition
Landlord insurance is a specialist form of property insurance designed for buy-to-let and other rented properties, and is distinct from an ordinary owner-occupier home insurance policy, which typically does not cover a property once it is let to tenants and can be invalidated if a claim is made on a standard policy for a rented home. At its core, landlord insurance provides buildings insurance (usually a mortgage lender requirement) and, if the property is let furnished or part-furnished, landlord contents insurance for the items the landlord owns and provides, but policies are typically built up from optional add-ons tailored to the risks of letting rather than owner-occupation: loss of rent cover if the property becomes uninhabitable after an insured event such as a fire or flood, malicious damage by tenants (which standard accidental damage cover often excludes), landlord public liability insurance in case a tenant or visitor is injured due to the property's disrepair, legal expenses cover for pursuing rent arrears or eviction, and rent guarantee insurance as a further optional layer against tenant non-payment. Because landlord insurance is not a single standardised product, and because mortgage lenders and letting agents may specify minimum levels of buildings or liability cover, landlords typically need to compare policies carefully to make sure the specific mix of cover matches their property, tenancy type and lender requirements.