A guide to Landlord Insurance providing advice to existing and prospective Landlords in the UK. Understand what Landlord Insurance is, what it covers and what you need to include.

1. Why You Need
It & What To
Include
A GUIDE TO LANDLORD
INSURANCE
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2. Landlord insurance or „buy-to-let‟
insurance is something you need
to look to purchase if you have a
property that you rent out.
This can be commercial or
residential.
It is what will cover you for
unforeseen eventualities such as:
 Loss of rent
 Accidental or malicious damage
 Public liability
WHAT IS LANDLORD INSURANCE?
Landlord Insurance =
Protection for Landlords

3. If you own a „buy-to-let‟ property
that you are renting out to
tenants, then you should look to
purchase Landlord insurance if you
are said “Landlord.”
 The Landlord - DEFINITELY
 The „Freeholder‟ is responsible for
insuring the building
 „Leaseholders‟ will need to apply
for Landlord insurance if they have
the right-to-manage or share of
„freehold‟
WHO NEEDS LANDLORD INSURANCE?
If You Are A Landlord That
Rents:
• Flats
• Houses
• Large blocks
• HMO‟s (Houses in Multiple
Occupation)
• Commercial properties

4. Most Landlord insurance
policies will cover you for the
following:
 Aircraft
 Earthquake
 Explosion
 Fire
 Flood
 Lightning
 Storm
 Escape of Water
WHAT DOES LANDLORD INSURANCE
COVER?
Some insurers may not include all of these
perils in your policy. Their inclusion may
depend on postcode checks and/or your
property history.

5. ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE:
 Some insurers will include this within your
policy but many will make this an additional
contingency. However, it is always best to cover
yourself for this as everyone has
accidents, especially if you are renting your
property to families with children
MALICIOUS DAMAGE:
 If you can, it is always best to include malicious
damage cover in your policy (if it is not included
in your standard policy) because
unfortunately, Landlords can be subject to
additional costs and repairs left intentionally by
angry tenants. This includes the damage caused
by Cannabis Farms
WHAT DOES LANDLORD INSURANCE
COVER?
Insure for the
unforeseeable!
You aren‟t psychic.

6. PUBLIC LIABILITY
As a Landlord, you are
responsible for the health and
safety of all persons that visit
your property:
 Postmen/women
 Couriers
 Tradesmen
(Plumbers, Electricians etc…)
 Health Visitors
 Decorators
If a member of the public injures
themselves due to a safety issue
with your property, you will be
held accountable and liable for
compensation
WHAT DOES LANDLORD INSURANCE
COVER?
Landlord
Insurance will
cover legal fees
for Public Liability
claims
Some claims
have reached up
to £1m

7. CONTENTS COVER
If you are renting out a furnished property
to save you paying for storage, then you
need to ensure contents cover is included
in your Landlord Insurance. (Especially for
theft)
Note: This does not include your tenants
contents
This may include:
 Washing machine
 Dishwasher
 Microwave
 Sofas
 Beds
 Tables
 Drawers
 Wardrobes
WHAT DOES LANDLORD INSURANCE
COVER?
Contents are anything
that does not stick to
the floor

8. LOSS OF RENT
 Many Landlord insurance
policies will protect you from
loss of rent, covering the
value of up to 20% should
your property be inhabitable
subject to a fire or flood etc…
 Some (but not many) insurers
will offer up to 30% cover for
loss of rent
 As rent is either your source
of income or what will be
paying your mortgage
broker, it is an important
component to have protected
WHAT DOES LANDLORD INSURANCE
COVER?
You may also want to consider
investing in „Rent Guarantee
Insurance‟ separately.
„In the first three months of 2013 the
number of tenants more than two
months behind on their rent rose by
4.8%...‟

9. The age of the property
If the property has been subject to any rebuilds
The renewal premium for your current policy
provider (if you have one)
The current state of the property eg: Vacant/Not
Vacant (If your property already has tenants you
will need to know their occupational status for a
quote)
If you have previously had insurance declined
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO KNOW FOR A
LANDLORD INSURANCE QUOTE

10.  Additional premiums and fees – Some
insurers will add a premium to your
policy for vacant properties. This
premium will only usually be enforced
if your property is vacant for 30-60
days
 Be honest – If you do not answer the
insurers questions honestly, or forget
to update insurers on the current state
of your property; your policy may
become VOID
 Read and understand – Read your
policy. It is your responsibility to know
your policy. If you don‟t understand
something, research it or ASK your
insurer. They are there to advise you as
much as they are there to insure you
LANDLORD INSURANCE ADVICE: WHAT TO
LOOK OUT FOR
It is your responsibility to
know your policy!
Speak to your policy
provider for Landlord
Insurance advice queries
– they can help.

11. Image
Resources
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BROWN/4325812085/SIZES/M/IN/PHOTOSTREAM /
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HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/36041246@N00/3238266268/SIZES
/M/IN/PHOTOSTREAM/
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/NIC/7409596/LIGHTBOX /
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/PLAYPENNIES/4791044169/SIZES/M
/IN/PHOTOSTREAM/
Information
Resources
http://www.iinsure365.co.uk/buildings-insurance-quote
https://www.gov.uk/private-renting/houses-in-multiple-occupation
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/mar/15/landlords-cannabis-farms-aviva
http://www.propertywire.com/news/europe/uk-tenants-arrears-rentals-201304047631.html