Renting out a property brings a different kind of financial risk than simply owning one. Standard home insurance is built for people who live in their homes, and most policies become void once you have tenants in place. That is where specialist landlord insurance comes in.
Landlord insurance covers the specific risks associated with letting out a property. A typical policy includes buildings cover, public liability insurance, and optional contents protection, with add-ons to suit your situation and the type of tenants you let to.
What landlord insurance typically covers
Buildings insurance is the foundation of most policies. It protects the structure of your property against fire, flooding, storm damage, subsidence, escape of water, and vandalism. If your buy-to-let property is mortgaged, your lender will almost certainly require this as a condition of the loan.
Public liability cover protects you financially if a tenant or visitor is injured at the property due to something you are responsible for: a broken stair rail, a faulty boiler installation, or a loose roof tile.
Loss of rent is another core benefit. If the property becomes uninhabitable following an insured event such as a fire or flood, this covers the rental income you lose while repairs are carried out.
Many policies also include, or offer as an add-on:
- Malicious damage by tenants, covering deliberate damage beyond normal wear and tear
- Contents insurance, relevant if your property is let furnished
- Legal expenses cover for disputes over possession, eviction proceedings, or contractual disagreements
- Emergency cover, for urgent callouts such as burst pipes or boiler failures
What it does not cover
Most standard landlord policies will not cover:
- General wear and tear or gradual deterioration
- Damage during a void period if the property is unoccupied beyond a set number of days, typically 30 to 90, depending on the insurer
- Tenant belongings
- Rental income lost because a tenant has stopped paying, unless you have specific rent guarantee cover
Is it a legal requirement?
Landlord insurance is not a legal requirement, but most landlords will need it regardless. Buy-to-let mortgage lenders routinely make it a condition of borrowing, and standard home insurance becomes invalid the moment tenants move in, meaning any claim you made could be rejected.
It is also worth considering how recent legislative changes affect your insurance needs. The Renters' Rights Act, due to take effect from 1 May 2026, ends no-fault evictions in England. With possession proceedings likely to take longer, cover for lost rental income and legal costs is becoming more important than ever.
If your policy has not been reviewed recently, now is a good time to look at it. The advisers at Moneysprite have been helping clients across southern England with the financial side of property ownership for years. If you want to check whether your cover still does what you need it to, get in touch today.
Approved by The Openwork Partnership on 09/06/2026.
