Compare Best Landlord Insurance Providers

Home Insurance Landlord insurance

Buy-to-let insurance, otherwise known as landlord insurance, is cover that’s specifically designed for rental properties. It works in much the same way as standard home insurance, with a comprehensive policy protecting your rental property and its fixtures and fittings in the event of damage or theft. If you’re looking for the best landlord insurance companies, you’ve come to the right place.

For over 35 years, our team of experts has been assessing the features of landlord insurance policies to determine those that offer consumers exceptional value for money. Our independent and impartial four- and five-Star Ratings act as a badge of quality and are awarded to products we believe are deserving of your consideration; you’ll find their logos proudly displayed next to recipients on our chart below. Compare landlord insurance and apply today.

Featured landlord insurance providers

Last updated: 06/11/2024

Alan Boswell Group
In-house claims team and dedicated account handler to guide you through any difficult claims

£5 million property owners’ liability cover, malicious damage by tenants and Employers' liability covers as standard

Additional landlord insurance covers available, such as landlord contents insurance, rent guarantee insurance, legal expenses, and home emergency.

A range of property insurance to suit your needs from first time landlords to Multiple property landlords, Commercial landlord, Holiday home, Blocks of Flats, Serviced accommodation, and Airbnb’s (Multiple property discount available).
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Premierline
Available covers include: Building and contents cover, property owners liability, legal expenses & landlord emergency cover

Compare landlord quotes from some of the UK most trusted insurers

It’s simple to get quotes and protect your property investment

Insurance advisors available to over the phone to tailor cover & provide guidance

Excellent customer service rating
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Swinton

• Commercial & buy-to-let properties
• Cover for a variety of tenants
• Additional cover options available
• 24/7 claims help

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Sagic
Wholly owned by The Salvation Army with over 100 years of service with a customer focused approach.

Landlords Insurance that supports the diverse charitable work of The Salvation Army.

Low £75 Standard Excess, £350 Escape of Water Excess, £1,000 Subsidence Excess.

UK-based customer service and claims team.

Additional benefits include no interest on monthly payments and no amendment or cancelation fees.
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Homeprotect
Protect your property and belongs from insured events such as fire, storm, flood, escape of water, theft, malicious damage, subsidence, landslip or heave.

What we offer:

Policies underwritten by AXA Insurance

Up to £1 million of Buildings cover as standard (eligibility criteria applies)

Up to £7,500 of landlord contents cover included with each Buildings policy

Up to £30,000 to cover lost rent if your tenants can't live in the home due to an insured event

Basic Home Emergency cover included as standard for plumbing and drainage emergencies, failure of domestic power supply, home security emergencies such as failure of door locks

Optional Home Emergency upgrade to cover boiler / heating emergencies and roof damage emergencies

Optional Legal Protection cover

24/7 Home Emergency Line
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Autonet

At Autonet, we’ve been providing insurance since 1998, now offering specialist landlord cover from a panel of carefully selected insurers. Protect against financial losses caused by perils such as flooding, vandalism and fire.

We offer cover on residential, commercial and buy-to-let properties, with a range of benefits which could cover:
- Unoccupied properties for up to 60 days
- Subsidence, landslip or ground heave
- Loss of rent
- Accidental damage

Our claims helpline is open 24/7.

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Note

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Disclaimer

The list of landlord insurance providers on this page is a selection of services available and gives you an idea of the kind of options available. You can find out more about the individual products by visiting any of the providers listed. All information is subject to change without notice. Please check all terms before making any decisions. This information is intended solely to provide guidance and is not financial advice. Moneyfactscompare.co.uk will not be liable for any loss arising from your use or reliance on this information. If you are in any doubt, Moneyfactscompare.co.uk recommends you obtain independent financial advice.

What parts of the policy do we look at?

The many factors we look at to determine Star Ratings include:

Maximum sums insured
Standard excesses
Accidental damage cover
Legal expenses
24-hour emergency helpline
Alternative accommodation
Property owner's liability
Employer's liability
Rent guarantee cover
Loss of rental income
Theft by tenant cover
Malicious damage cover
Unauthorised alterations cover
Subsidence cover
Burst and blocked pipes
Outbuildings cover
Garden cover
Home emergency cover
Home emergency repair guarantee
Key cover

Do I need landlord insurance?

Legally you’re not obliged to take out specialist landlord insurance, but it can make a lot of sense to do so. If you’ve got a mortgage then some form of insurance will normally be required, and a standard home insurance policy won’t cover rental activities given the different risks involved. This means failing to take out landlord insurance could mean you’re breaking your mortgage contract.

It can make financial sense as well. The right policy can offer protection against everything from property damage to loss of rent and legal disputes, which could cost a lot to put right out of your own pocket. As with all kinds of insurance, it’s all about being prepared for the worst-case scenario, giving you peace of mind that you won’t be at risk of footing an unnecessary bill.

What landlord insurance covers

At its core, landlord insurance offers buildings and contents cover. Damage to your rental property can come in many forms – such as through flood, fire, vandalism or water leaks – but landlord buildings insurance can protect the value of your property, and can be used to rebuild or repair any damages caused.

Contents insurance, meanwhile, will cover the items inside your rental property in case of damage or theft. This is especially important if you’re letting a furnished home with expensive furniture and appliances.

Most policies will cover the following as standard:

Damage due to fire, flood, storms or fallen trees
Theft
Vandalism
Burst pipes or boiler breakdown (some policies will see boiler repair as an add-on)
Accidental damage
Subsidence
Loss of keys
Eviction of squatters

You’ll often be able to tailor your policy to include different kinds of protection as well. The very best landlord insurance in the UK can include things like:

Loss of rent cover

Loss of rent cover is designed to cover the gap in your rental income if your property becomes uninhabitable. For example, if a fire destroys the roof of your rental home, your tenants will be forced to move out and find alternative accommodation. Until the roof is fixed you won’t be earning any rent, and so this cover ensures you can keep up with your buy-to-let mortgage payments.

Rent guarantee cover

Similar to the above, but this time it’s designed to cover situations where tenants default on their rental payments. You can also find cover for void periods between tenants, again ensuring your mortgage obligations are met.

Legal protection

If you get into a legal dispute with your tenant, it can get costly. Hiring solicitors and other legal resources can take a chunk out of your income, which is why legal protection will cover this cost.

Public liability insurance

Public liability insurance can be used to cover legal and compensation costs if someone – including a tenant – were to be injured on your property.

Landlord emergency cover

Much like home emergency cover for residential properties, this kind of insurance will provide financial protection should an emergency hit that damages your rental property or makes it uninhabitable.

What isn’t covered by landlord insurance?

This will depend on your individual policy, but as a general rule, the following won’t be covered by landlord insurance:

General wear and tear
Damage caused by pets or pests
Your tenants’ possessions (they’ll need a home contents policy of their own)
Malicious damage by tenants (though this can sometimes be added)
Claims as a result of poor maintenance
Unoccupied properties (unless they’re regularly maintained)

As with all kinds of insurance, the level of protection offered will vary between providers and individual policies. It’s essential to thoroughly compare landlord insurance and always read the policy wording so you know exactly what to expect.

What kind of properties can be insured?

Any kind of rental property can be covered by landlord insurance, including residential and commercial, though you’ll likely need more specialist cover for properties that are used as business premises. Similarly, HMOs (houses of multiple occupation) will need more specialist cover to account for the additional risks involved.

FAQs

How much does landlord insurance cost?

This can depend on several factors, including the type and age of the property, how much rent you’re charging, whether you’ve made any previous claims, and your chosen level of cover. Bear in mind that the cheapest insurance policies don’t always represent the best value for money; price will of course come into it, but to make sure you’re getting the best landlord insurance in the UK, it’s important to compare every feature of the policy to ensure you’ve got the cover that’s right for you.

Do you need both home and landlord insurance?

You don’t legally need either, but if you’ve got a mortgaged property, you’ll likely need suitable cover before your lender releases the money to you. Remember, standard home insurance won’t be suitable for your rental property, so you’ll need specialist landlord insurance instead to ensure you can meet your mortgage obligations. Note that this may not be enough to replace mortgage protection insurance, which could be an additional consideration.

Who pays the insurance, landlord or tenant?

Landlord buildings insurance will be the responsibility of the landlord, because ultimately you can only insure what you own. If you’re letting a furnished property, it makes sense to pay for contents cover as well. Tenants won’t need to pay anything towards landlord insurance, but they should ideally consider home contents cover to protect their own belongings.