Landlord Legal Liability Insurance

Landlord liability insurance can protect you if someone claims against you because of injury or damage on your property. Without it, you could be left to cover potentially costly legal fees and lose income from missed rental payments as a result of any claims.

Landlord liability and legal protection insurance

Landlord liability insurance can protect you if a tenant, visitor, or tradesperson makes a compensation claim when on your property. For example, if someone trips on a loose carpet and injures themselves, you can be covered for legal costs if they decide to make a claim against you. It’s a sensible consideration as compensation payouts can include medical costs and lost income, so they can be very high.

Cover designed for landlords

This cover is specifically for landlords. It goes beyond just liability, as it can include cover for third party property damage, injury claims, and even repossession costs if necessary. It can also include flexible extras like rent guarantee cover to protect your income, and unoccupied building cover for financial protection when your property is empty.

Key features of our landlords’ liability and legal expenses insurance with optional rent guarantee

Deacon’s landlords’ liability and legal insurance can be tailored to include essential protections, with optional rent guarantee to secure your rental income if tenants are unable to pay.

• Up to £50,000 cover: You can get up to £50,000 of cover for legal expenses.

• Property protection: Protect your rental property with cover to help you manage costs from property-related claims and liabilities.

• Criminal prosecution defence: If you face prosecution related to your landlord duties, this cover can include legal defence costs to help you handle it confidently.

• Repossession: Our insurance can help cover the legal fees if you need to repossess your property, so you can regain control when needed.

• 24/7 Legal advice: Access legal advice anytime, day or night, so you can get support for any rental issues when you need it.

• Rent guarantee: This optional cover is available at extra cost and can provide steady income if your tenants can’t or refuse to pay rent.

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.

Landlord duty of care and responsibilities

As a landlord, you have a legal duty to ensure your property is safe, habitable, and well-maintained, both for your tenants and any visitors. Under the Fitness for Human Habitation Act 2018, landlords are required to provide properties that meet basic standards of health and safety, including adequate ventilation, heating, and protection from dampness.

You also need to adhere to the Defective Premises Act 1972. It outlines your responsibility to ensure that any repairs or maintenance are carried out to prevent potential injury or damage to tenants and their belongings. Fulfilling these obligations supports tenant wellbeing and helps protect you from legal liability claims.

Why choose Gallagher for your landlord liability insurance?

At Gallagher, we provide specialist landlord liability insurance to help protect you as a property owner. Our policies can cover various properties, including blocks of flats or apartments. We also offer several optional extras to help you customise your policy into one that works for you.

Here are some of the reasons to choose us:

• Standard cover with optional extras
• Cover for various property types (standard, converted, listed, purpose-built)
• Specialist claims advisors offering step-by-step support
• 24-hour claims service available every day of the year

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.

*As with all insurance policies, this policy is subject to limits, conditions and exclusions. For more information please call us or email us to request a full summary of the cover or the full policy terms and conditions. This document does not purport to be comprehensive or to give legal advice. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, Gallagher cannot be held liable for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies contained within the document. Readers are always recommended to take further professional advice before making a decision.

Landlord Liability Insurance FAQs

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.

What is legal and rent guarantee insurance for landlords?

Legal and rent guarantee insurance, sometimes known as rent protection insurance, is usually optional and can be added to an existing landlord policy.  It can help provide protection if your tenants get into difficulty paying their rent or help with legal expenses that you may incur from the tenancy. For more information, get in touch with our team.

Does landlord insurance cover legal costs?

Landlord legal insurance is generally optional cover that can be added to your landlord’s insurance policy.  It can provide help with legal costs, such as advice and court costs, resulting from the tenancy and disputes with other parties.

How does rent guarantee insurance work?

If your tenants fail to pay their rent, you can usually claim on your policy once they’re a month in arrears.  Typically, a rent guarantee insurance policy will then continue to pay out monthly for a fixed period of up to a maximum of 11 months, or sooner if your tenants start paying their rent again. It’s important to check the policy wording so you’re familiar how rent guarantee insurance works. Can’t find an answer to your question? Get in touch today.

As a landlord, what am I liable for?

Landlords are responsible for maintaining a safe and habitable property, covering aspects like structural integrity, safety hazards, and essential repairs. Liability extends to injury or damage claims made by tenants or visitors due to property issues. Besides liability insurance, other policies—such as building and contents insurance—can help protect against unexpected costs.

What should I do if a claim is made against me as a landlord?

If a claim is made, report it to your insurer promptly and gather any supporting documentation. Landlord liability insurance can provide essential support by covering legal defence costs and potential compensation fees, so you have expert guidance throughout the process.

How can I reduce the risk of liability claims?

Maintaining property safety standards, conducting regular inspections, and addressing tenant concerns promptly can help reduce liability risks. Building strong tenant relationships and ensuring property upkeep can also lower the chance of claims.