What does landlord insurance cover?
Landlord insurance covers a rental property's buildings, the landlord's contents and their liability to tenants and visitors, with options such as rent guarantee and legal expenses. Standard home insurance does not cover letting. Lenders require buildings cover, and policies often limit cover when a property is empty or let as an HMO without telling the insurer.
Read more in our guide: When a portfolio becomes a burden
Typical landlord cover
| Cover | What it does |
|---|---|
| Buildings | Rebuild and repair after insured damage; usually required by lenders |
| Landlord's contents | Furniture, appliances and carpets you supply |
| Property owner's liability | Claims for injury or damage to others |
| Loss of rent | Rent lost while the property is uninhabitable after a claim |
| Rent guarantee | Unpaid rent, subject to tenant referencing |
| Legal expenses | Possession and rent recovery costs |
What landlords need
Buildings insurance protects the asset and is a condition of most buy-to-let mortgages. Liability cover matters because landlords can be sued by tenants or visitors injured by a defect. For leasehold flats, the freeholder normally insures the building and recovers the cost through the service charge, so landlords need contents and liability only.
Common exclusions
- Unoccupied property: cover is often restricted after 30 to 60 days empty; see void periods.
- Undisclosed use: letting as an HMO, to students or as short lets without telling the insurer.
- Gradual damage, wear and tear and poor maintenance.
- Malicious damage by tenants, unless specifically covered.
- Known issues not disclosed when the policy was taken out.
After the Renters' Rights Act
Insurers can no longer require landlords to refuse benefit claimants or families with children; such terms are unenforceable. Rent guarantee products have adapted to periodic tenancies and the longer possession process under Section 8.
Insurance and a sale
Under the standard conditions used in most sales, the seller keeps the risk of damage until completion, so keep the policy running until then. Cancel or transfer it after completion, and give the buyer details of the claims history if asked. Unresolved claims should be disclosed as part of due diligence.
Official Sources and Further Reading
General information for landlords in England, checked against official sources in October 2026. It is not tax, legal or financial advice: speak to a qualified accountant or solicitor about your own circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Landlord insurance covers a rental property's buildings, the landlord's contents and their liability to tenants and visitors, with options such as rent guarantee and legal expenses. Standard home insurance does not cover letting. Lenders require buildings cover, and policies often limit cover when a property is empty or let as an HMO without telling the insurer.
No. Home insurance usually excludes letting, which can leave you with no cover at all.
Yes. Premiums for a let property are an allowable expense against rent.
Check your policy. Some exclude pet damage, which affects how you protect the property.
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