Landlord Building and Contents Insurance
Get landlord building and contents insurance to help protect your rental property, including the structure and the items inside. Deacon can help you find suitable cover to manage risks and maintain your investment with confidence.
Building and contents insurance designed for landlords
Buildings and contents insurance for landlords offers specialised cover for managing rental properties. It can help protect you against risks, whether you’re an individual landlord or part of a residential management company overseeing multiple properties.
Although it’s not a legal requirement, landlord building and contents insurance can be worthwhile to help protect your investment. With coverage for unforeseen costs from accidental or malicious damage by tenants, fires, floods, or other unexpected events, you could be covered from expensive fees and so you can focus on managing your properties.
Our policies have been developed especially for residential landlords and buy-to-let investors. Available as standalone buildings insurance, contents insurance or a combination of both for better value.
Why do you need landlord building and contents cover?
Fire, flood, and malicious damage by tenants are just some of the many risks you face as a landlord. Without insurance, you could be left financially liable to cover repair and liability costs.
Landlord buildings and contents insurance helps protect your property and rental business, even when the unexpected happens. This insurance can cover various aspects of your building from unforeseen risks, including communal areas. It can also include liability cover, which is important if tenants or visitors are injured due to issues within the property. Read our combined policy documentation for the full list of benefits.
Features of landlord building and contents insurance
Deacon’s landlord building and contents insurance can include various cover options to help protect your property. We’ll help you find suitable insurance, so you can manage your rental investment with greater peace of mind.
Garages and domestic outbuildings cover
Protection for garages, sheds, and other domestic outbuildings on your property from damage or loss.
Car parks, road terraces, patios, and footpath cover
Cover may include protection for car parks, private roads, terraces, patios, and footpaths on the property, to help ensure they’re covered from insured events such as malicious damage or flood.
CCTV and external fixtures cover
This feature helps protect external security installations, such as CCTV systems and outdoor lighting.
Drains, sewers, and septic tank cover
Insurance policies can extend to cover drains, sewers, and septic tanks on your property for damage caused by an insured event.
Fire, storm and flood cover
Protection in the event of damage from certain natural occurrences or extreme weather.
Public liability cover
Public liability cover can protect you from legal costs and claims if a tenant or visitor is injured on your property for up to £5 million.
Contents cover
Landlord contents insurance helps protect items within your properties from damage or loss, which can include everything from appliances to soft furnishings.
Theft and attempted theft cover
In the event of a break-in or theft, landlord contents insurance can help cover damage or loss incurred as a result of theft or attempted theft, providing additional security for your property and its contents.
Escape of water or oil cover
Cover for escape of water incidents can help with the costs of water damage due to plumbing issues, such as burst pipes or leaks.
Malicious damage cover
Malicious damage insurance may help cover repair costs if someone intentionally damages your property or its contents.
Unoccupied building cover
If your property is left unoccupied, this insurance can help provide cover for up to 60 days of unoccupancy.
Loss of rent cover
Loss of rent cover can help ensure you don’t lose out on income if property becomes uninhabitable due to an insured event, with cover up to 33.33% of the building sum insured.
Landlord legal expenses (optional)
Potential coverage of up to £50,000 to cover legal expenses as a result of any legal action taken in defense of your business or property.
These are brief product descriptions only. Please refer to the policy documentation paying particular attention to the terms and conditions, exclusions, warranties, subjectivities, excesses and any endorsements.
For a copy of our guide to Residential Landlord insurance, the cover provided under a standard policy* and examples of how the cover could benefit you, click here.
For full terms and conditions please refer to the policy wording available on request. As with all insurance policies, the policy is subject to limits, conditions and exclusions. For more information please contact us to discuss further, or request a full summary of the cover or the full policy terms and conditions. The opinions and views expressed in the above article are those of the author only and are for guidance purposes only. The authors disclaim any liability for reliance upon those opinions and would encourage readers to rely upon more than one source before making a decision based on the information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please note that these Frequently Asked Questions are not a substitute for the policy wording. For full terms and conditions please see the policy documentation.
Find answers to some of the most common questions about landlord buildings and contents insurance below. If you have a question that isn’t answered here, feel free to get in touch for more information.
Do I need landlord insurance?
Landlord insurance isn’t legally required, but it could be worthwhile to help protect your rental property and finances. Landlord insurance can be tailored to cover risks specific to rental properties, such as accidental or malicious damage, loss of rent, and liability if tenants are injured. Without landlord insurance, you could be financially liable for costs that standard home insurance may not cover.
Who arranges buildings insurance for a let property?
The landlord is usually responsible for arranging buildings insurance for a rental property. This insurance can cover the structure of the building, including the walls, roof, and permanent fixtures. If you’re renting a flat, the freeholder or managing agent might arrange the buildings insurance. Always check your lease terms to see whether you need to arrange this insurance.
What insurance do I need for a let property?
For a let property, landlords typically need buildings insurance to cover the structure, but additional insurance options may be worthwhile. Landlord contents insurance can protect items like appliances and furnishings from damage or theft. Liability insurance may also be important, as it helps to protect against legal claims if someone is injured on your property.
Do I need buildings insurance if I have landlord insurance?
Landlord insurance policies generally bundle buildings insurance with other relevant cover options, like liability cover or loss of rent. However, if you’re unsure about your policy details or whether landlord buildings insurance is included, it’s always a good idea to confirm with your provider.
Do I need contents insurance for a let property?
If your rental property is furnished, landlord contents insurance can be beneficial. It helps protect items like appliances, furniture, and other furnishings provided for tenants, covering damage or theft. Without contents insurance, you could be responsible for the costs of replacing or repairing these items if they’re damaged. Even in unfurnished properties, it might still be worth considering contents insurance if you have a few key items.
Is landlord insurance a legal requirement?
No, landlord insurance isn’t legally required. However, many mortgage lenders require landlords to have landlord buildings insurance for rental properties. Landlord insurance typically includes cover for buildings, contents (if furnished), and liability, which standard home insurance policies may not cover. To learn more about how landlord insurance can help protect your investment, contact the Deacon team.
Is rising damp covered by landlord buildings insurance?
Rising damp cover is not included and it’s often considered a maintenance issue rather than an accident. It will be excluded by most insurers as either a gradually operating cause or as a result of a building defect (i.e. inadequate or missing damp-proofing).
Does landlord contents insurance cover boilers and windows?
Yes, landlord building and contents insurance generally covers essential features like boilers and windows as part of the property’s structure for certain insured events such as accidental or malicious damage. This cover may extend to repair or replacement costs. However, issues connected with boiler maintenance are generally not included. For more advice, contact us to see what’s included.