Compare Landlord Insurance Quotes
Compare landlord insurance quotes from leading providers with one short form. Whether you’re looking to insure single properties or large portfolios, get a quote today.
- One short quote form
- Suitable for all landlords
- You could save time and money
How comparing works
You only need to provide your details once, and insurers on the panel come back to you with tailored quotes so you can compare them side by side.Compare Landlord Insurance In 3 Steps
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Provide details about you & your property(s)
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What is landlord insurance?
Like standard home insurance, landlord or buy-to-let insurance protects you financially when renting or letting your property. The risks of inviting tenants to live in your property are higher than simply living there yourself, so landlord insurance covers damage to the building or your contents, with possible legal protection if you get into a dispute with your tenants.
Common risks include fire, flooding, burst pipes, storms and boiler breakdown. Essentially, you have invested in your property, and landlord insurance helps you protect that investment.
Your home insurance policy is unlikely to cover a rented property, so it is sensible to have landlord insurance in place before tenants move in. It is not a legal requirement, but most buy-to-let mortgage lenders will require it. Without it, if something goes wrong in the property or with the contract, you will be liable for the entire bill. Because it is a more specialist product than standard home insurance, you can tailor the policy to your property and your needs.
How much does landlord insurance cost?
The cost of a landlord insurance policy varies depending on many things, such as your claims history and the level of cover you need. The key price influencers are:
- Level of cover - tailor it to what you need so you do not pay for unnecessary items.
- Property location - a property in a higher crime area, or near the sea or a river, is likely to cost more to insure.
- Size and age of the property.
- Your tenants - people come with their own risk levels. Students, for example, are typically seen as higher risk, as are pets.
- Claims history - a claim within the past five years will make your premium more expensive.
- How you pay - as with any insurance, paying annually rather than monthly is often cheaper.
The best way to find a reasonable price is to compare landlord insurance quotes. Enter your details once and specialist insurers on the panel will contact you with tailored quotes.
Types of landlord insurance explained
Landlord insurance is usually built from two main types of cover, with optional extras added on top.
Landlord's buildings insurance
Protects your property from damage to the building, such as fire or water damage, a leaking roof or storm damage. It can also cover vandalism or malicious damage, and most buildings policies cover fixed bathroom fittings, including toilets and baths.
Landlord's contents insurance
Often sold alongside buildings insurance, this is typically for landlords who let their property fully or part-furnished. It covers carpets, curtains, white goods, TVs, furniture and even crockery and china, and you can add accidental cover for breakages and spillages. It does not cover tenants' belongings; they need their own contents insurance.
Portfolio landlord's insurance
One policy covering multiple properties. It is more complex than insuring each property individually, as each comes with varying risk levels and needs, so it is usually best arranged over the phone with the provider.
Short-term let cover
Policies tailored to holiday homes and AirBnB-style lets. Some cover the entire property while others cover just one room, depending on how you let it. They typically cover theft, damage and legal assistance, and can be tailored like other policies.
How to get cheap landlord insurance
Every property and every landlord is different, so prices vary, but there are a few things you can do to try to lower your premium.
Go big on security
Install the latest security locks, fit burglar alarms and consider CCTV. These deter thieves, show the insurer you take security seriously and help your tenants feel safe.
Keep the property pet-free
Allowing pets increases contents insurance premiums because the risk of scratch marks and carpet stains is much higher, so consider making your property pet-free.
Increase your voluntary excess
You choose the level of voluntary excess you pay, and increasing it brings the premium down. Do not set it so high that it becomes unaffordable if you need to claim.
Know your tenants
Bringing a new tenant into the property is always a risk, so carry out thorough referencing checks before anyone moves in.
Keep it occupied
Insurers view empty properties as high risk, so avoid letting your property sit empty. Vacant properties are also expensive on council tax.
Compare quotes
Comparing quotes through Quote Goat lets you provide your details once and weigh up tailored quotes from a panel of specialist insurers.
What details do I need to get a quote?
Have these to hand before you start.
About you
Your personal details and your claims history.
Your property
Its location, size and age, and whether it is let furnished or unfurnished.
Your tenants
The type of tenants you let to, for example students, and whether pets are allowed.
Cover needed
Buildings, contents or both, plus any optional extras you want included.
What does landlord insurance cover?
The provider and level of cover determine what is included, and it will all be set out in your policy documents. Commonly covered items are:
- The building - walls, roof, floors, doors and windows.
- Contents - anything that would fall out if you tipped the property upside down. This does not include your tenants' belongings; they need their own contents insurance.
- Fixtures and fittings - permanent internal fixtures not covered under the buildings insurance.
- Glass and sanitary ware.
- Public liability.
- Floor coverings - carpets, laminate and wood flooring, excluding rugs.
- Alternative accommodation - for tenants following an insured event such as flood or fire.
What optional extras can I add?
Most landlord policies let you add cover on top of the basics. Common optional extras are:
- Malicious or deliberate damage.
- Accidental damage - for mishaps such as spilling a glass of wine on the sofa.
- Landlord emergency cover - for the cost of emergency repairs such as broken windows or a boiler.
- Legal expenses.
- Rent guarantee or loss of rent.
Ready to get landlord insurance quotes?
One short form, then specialist insurers come back to you with tailored quotes.
Frequently asked questions
Is landlord insurance a legal requirement?
No. Landlord insurance is not a legal requirement, but most buy-to-let mortgage lenders will require you to have it. Without it, if something goes wrong in the property or with the contract, you are liable for the entire bill.
Does my home insurance cover a property I rent out?
Your standard home insurance policy is unlikely to cover a rented property. Landlord insurance is a more specialist product designed for the higher risks of letting to tenants, so it is sensible to have it in place before tenants move in.
Can I buy landlord insurance for multiple properties?
Yes. You can insure each property individually, which is less complex but may be slightly more expensive, or buy one policy covering multiple properties, known as portfolio landlord's insurance. Because each property has its own risk level, portfolio cover is usually best arranged over the phone with the provider.
Can I claim back the tax on landlord insurance?
Landlord insurance falls under your expenses for running and maintaining your buy-to-let property, which means you can claim it as an expense. Quote Goat is not a tax adviser, so check your own position.
Do I need landlord insurance to let my property on AirBnB?
It is not a legal requirement, but short lets such as holiday homes and AirBnB properties can be more complex to insure. You can buy short-term policies tailored to these lets; some cover the whole property and others just one room, and they typically cover theft, damage and legal assistance.
Does landlord contents insurance cover my tenants' belongings?
No. Landlord's contents insurance covers items you provide, such as carpets, curtains, white goods, TVs and furniture. Tenants need to buy their own contents insurance for their belongings.
What affects the cost of landlord insurance?
The level of cover you choose, the property's location, size and age, the type of tenants you let to, your claims history and whether you pay annually or monthly all affect the premium. A claim within the past five years will push the price up.
How does comparing landlord insurance through Quote Goat work?
You complete one short form with details about yourself and your property. Specialist UK insurers on the panel then contact you with tailored quotes, and you choose the one that suits you and buy cover from your preferred insurer.
Landlord Insurance for your situation
Other pages that may fit your business, and guides on this topic.
Written by Michael Foote, Insurance & Finance Expert
Founder of Quote Goat, with over 20 years' experience in finance and insurance. He has appeared on TV and in Forbes, The Telegraph and The Metro.
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