Landlord Insurance for Rental Properties
Letting out a residential property comes with responsibilities, financial risks and the need for reliable cover.
Landlord insurance overview
Letting out a residential property comes with responsibilities, financial risks and the need for reliable cover. Landlord insurance is specialist protection designed to safeguard your rental property, the fixtures and fittings you provide, and the income you depend on. Standard home insurance rarely covers rental activity, so landlords need dedicated property protection that reflects the realities of letting a home.
This comprehensive guide covers:
- What landlord insurance is and why it differs from standard home insurance
- Key areas of cover, including buildings, contents, liability and loss of rent
- When combined buildings and contents insurance is the right choice
- Factors that influence the cost of landlord insurance
- Cover for unoccupied rental properties
- How to get a landlord insurance quote tailored to your property
What is landlord insurance?
Landlord insurance is tailored for owners who rent out residential property. It provides cover for the building, the contents you supply and your legal responsibilities as a landlord. It can also include protection for loss of rent if insured damage leaves the property uninhabitable for a period. Although not a legal requirement, most buy-to-let lenders expect landlords to have buildings insurance in place before a tenancy begins.
Because tenants change the risk profile of a home, standard home insurance often becomes invalid once the property is rented. A specialist policy makes sure you have the right protection in place.
What does landlord insurance cover?
Landlord insurance can include several core elements of protection.
Buildings insurance covers the structure of your rental property, including walls, roofs, floors, ceilings, fitted kitchens, bathrooms and other permanent fixtures. It usually protects against damage caused by fire, flood, storm, theft, vandalism, escape of water or subsidence. This is the foundation of most landlord insurance policies as it ensures the property can be repaired or rebuilt after major damage.
If your property is furnished or part-furnished, contents insurance protects the items you provide. This includes furniture, appliances, carpets, curtains and other movable items. It covers damage, theft or loss of these items. It does not include tenants’ belongings, so they will need their own contents or renters’ insurance.
Property owners’ liability helps protect you if a tenant, visitor or contractor is injured or if their belongings are damaged due to an issue at your property. It can cover legal expenses and compensation if you are found responsible. With people regularly accessing the property, this cover is an important safeguard.
If your property becomes uninhabitable due to insured damage, loss of rent cover can replace the rental income you would have received. Some policies also include alternative accommodation for your tenants while repairs take place. This helps reduce disruption and protects your financial position.
How we approach landlord insurance
Letting is not one risk but several, and they rarely arrive together. Our role is to work out which of them apply to your property and your tenancy, then arrange cover that matches — rather than fitting you to a single package and hoping it holds.
- A rebuild figure that reflects the property, not its sale price
- Buildings, contents and liability sized against how the property is let
- Loss of rent set against the income you actually depend on
- Cover that holds while the property sits empty between tenancies
Combined buildings and contents cover
Some landlords prefer a combined buildings and contents policy for simplicity. This type of cover protects both the structure of the property and the items you provide, all under one policy. Many providers — including Checkmate’s Landlords Building and Contents Insurance — offer a straightforward, practical option for those who want comprehensive protection in a single policy.
| Buildings insurance | Contents insurance | |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | The structure — walls, roofs, floors, ceilings, fitted kitchens and bathrooms, and other permanent fixtures | The movable items you provide — furniture, appliances, carpets and curtains |
| Typical insured events | Fire, flood, storm, theft, vandalism, escape of water and subsidence | Damage, theft or loss of the items you supply |
| Who needs it | Almost every landlord. Most buy-to-let lenders require it before a tenancy begins | Landlords letting furnished or part-furnished property |
| What it does not cover | The items inside the property | Tenants’ own belongings — they arrange their own contents or renters’ insurance |
Who needs landlord insurance?
Single-property landlords
Letting one flat or house. Most lenders require buildings insurance as part of buy-to-let mortgage conditions.
Portfolio landlords
Letting part of a portfolio, where cover needs to be consistent across every property rather than arranged piecemeal.
Furnished and part-furnished lets
Providing furniture, appliances, carpets or curtains, which buildings cover alone does not protect.
Landlords relying on the rent
Depending on the rental income, where a period of uninhabitability would be felt immediately.
How much does landlord insurance cost?
The cost of landlord insurance depends on several factors, including the rebuild value of the property, its age, size and construction type, the location, the level of contents cover you need and any optional extras you select. Your claims history and the type of tenants you rent to may also play a part.
Get the rebuild cost right One of the most important factors is the rebuild cost. This should reflect what it would take to rebuild the property from the ground up, including materials, labour, debris removal and professional fees. Getting this right helps avoid being underinsured.
For a standard rented property, on recent UK data.
Per year, for a home with a £200,000 rebuild cost.
Per year, depending on the insurer and level of protection.
Per annum. Premiums vary widely by property type and risk profile.
As a general guide, recent UK data shows that the median annual cost of landlord insurance is around £274 for a standard rented property. Basic buildings-only policies typically start at around £170 per year for a home with a £200,000 rebuild cost, while more comprehensive cover usually falls between £225 and £250 per year, depending on the insurer and level of protection you choose. Premiums vary widely based on property type and risk profile, so a realistic but very broad and general range sits somewhere between £200 and £500 per annum.
Cover for unoccupied rental properties
Properties can become unoccupied between tenancies or during renovation work. Many insurers reduce cover after a certain number of days without tenants. Unoccupied property insurance can maintain protection during these periods until the property is ready to let again. This ensures the property remains protected even when it is empty.
Speak to us about your landlord insurance needs
Whether you let out a single property or manage several rentals, specialist landlord insurance can help protect your investment and keep your rental income secure.
- Cover matched to how the property is actually let
- Buildings, contents, liability and loss of rent in one place
- A rebuild figure sense-checked before you insure
- A quote within 24 hours
To discuss your requirements or request a tailored quote, contact Checkmate today.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions landlords ask about buildings, contents, liability and loss of rent.
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