Landlord insurance

Reliable cover for your buy-to-let

Landlords typically pay less than £252 a year for buildings insurance¹

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Landlord cover you can rely on

Insurance that’s trusted by thousands of landlords in the UK²

Quotes tailored to your needs

Choose from optional extras such as accidental damage and rent guarantee

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What is landlord insurance?

Landlord insurance (also called buy-to-let insurance) is a specialist policy that covers properties rented out to tenants.

It covers the building and any landlord-owned contents from theft and damage caused by unexpected events, such as fire, flooding, storms and burst pipes.

You can choose to add on extras to cover loss of rent, accidental damage and legal expenses cover.

Do I need landlord insurance?

Landlord insurance isn’t a legal requirement in the UK, but it’s a good idea if you rent out a property. That’s because standard home insurance won’t cover things like unpaid rent or damage caused by a tenant.

If you take out a buy-to-let mortgage, your lender will likely require you to have landlord buildings insurance before you can rent out the property.

If you’re renting a leasehold flat, the freeholder is usually responsible for buildings insurance. But it’s worth double-checking this in your lease or asking your solicitor to check for you.

How much does landlord insurance cost?

According to our data, landlord insurance typically costs:

£252¹

for buildings insurance

£291⁴

for buildings and contents insurance

The cost of landlord property insurance depends on several factors, including:

The property – older properties or those needing repairs are seen as a higher risk
Location – areas at risk of flooding or with high levels of crime can push up your premium
Who you’re renting to – properties shared by several tenants or let to students can cost more to insure
How much cover you choose – adding extra cover will increase the cost. For example, adding public liability insurance gives you valuable protection, but it will increase your premium by up to £80 per year⁵.

¹51% of our customers were quoted less than £251.51 for their building cover business insurance in April-June 2026.

⁴51% of our customers were quoted less than £291 for their buildings and contents cover business insurance in April - June 2026.

Compare landlord insurance quotes

We've teamed up with Simply Business so you can compare tailored landlord insurance quotes from 15 trusted providers⁶ to help find the right cover for your rental property.

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What does landlord property insurance cover?

Landlord insurance covers the structure of your rental property and any contents inside the property that you own. Optional extras are available to give you extra cover.

Typically covered

Damage to the structure of the building, caused by fire, flooding and storm damage
Damage to fixtures and fittings, such as a fitted kitchen
Theft and vandalism
Burst pipes, leaks and water damage
Subsidence or heave
Damage caused by falling trees
Alternative accommodation for displaced tenants
Deliberate damage caused by tenants (not always included as standard, may be available as an add-on)

Not typically covered

Your tenants’ belongings
Wear and tear: damage through normal use or because of poor maintenance
Damage by pets

Optional cover

Landlord contents insurance
Accidental damage by tenants
Legal expenses cover
Rent guarantee insurance
Rental income protection
Landlord emergency cover
Public liability insurance
Unoccupied property insurance
Employers’ liability insurance

Landlord buildings insurance and landlord contents insurance policies vary between providers. Read the policy documents carefully to check what is and isn’t covered.

What properties can I insure with landlord home insurance?

Landlord home insurance can cover residential buy-to-let properties, multiple buy-to-let properties, commercial premises and HMOs (via a separate HMO policy).

Residential

For buy-to-let properties that you rent out to people who live in them

Multi-property

If you own more than one buy-to-let

Commercial

If the property is a business premises

House in multiple occupation (HMO)

Not typically covered by standard landlord insurance – instead, you’ll need HMO landlord insurance

What type of landlord insurance do I need?

Depending on your circumstances, you might want to consider:

Landlord buildings insurance

Landlord buildings insurance covers damage to the structure of your property, caused by events such as fire, flooding, subsidence, theft or vandalism.

Landlord contents insurance

If you’re letting a furnished property, landlord contents insurance offers cover for the items you own inside it.

Accidental damage cover

You can add on accidental damage cover in case your tenant accidentally damages your property or your contents inside it.

Legal expenses cover

Legal expenses insurance can cover your legal costs for a range of issues, including pursuing unpaid rent, tenant personal injury claims and eviction.

Rent guarantee insurance

Rent guarantee insurance can cover your rental income if your tenants can’t pay their rent.

Rental income protection

This could pay out if your building is damaged and you can’t rent it out.

Landlord emergency cover

Landlord home emergency cover pays out for call-outs and initial repairs for home emergencies, such as a burst pipe or blocked drains.

Landlord liability insurance

Landlord liability insurance could cover your legal costs if somebody is injured at the property and makes a claim against you.

Unoccupied property cover

Unoccupied property insurance could be useful if you’re renovating a property before renting it out or you find yourself with a long gap between tenants.

Employers’ liability insurance

If you employ anyone to help you manage your rental properties, it’s a legal requirement that you have employers’ liability insurance.

How can I get cheaper landlord insurance?

These tips could help reduce the cost of your buy-to-let insurance.

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Install good security

Solid locks, burglar alarms and CCTV could make your property less attractive to thieves. Insurance providers could reduce your premium to reflect this lower risk

Increase your excess

Increasing your voluntary excess could lower the cost of your premium. But make sure you can afford both your voluntary excess and the compulsory excess if you make a claim

Minimise vacant periods

Insurance providers are generally reluctant to cover properties left unoccupied for extended periods as they’re at higher risk of vandalism and burglary

Combine landlord cover

Packaging different types of landlord insurance into a single policy could be cheaper than buying them separately

Choose your tenants carefully

You could pay a higher premium if the insurance provider considers your tenants to be high risk. For example, students and tenants with pets

Pay annually

Paying annually for your insurance is often cheaper than paying monthly. Interest is typically added to monthly instalments

Compare landlord insurance quotes

Always compare landlord insurance quotes to get a deal that’s right for you. The right insurance policy might not always come from the biggest providers. You could find a great deal from an insurer you’re unfamiliar with. In April-June 2026, 10% of our customers were quoted less than £14.45 a month for landlord insurance building cover⁷.

⁷10% of our customers were quoted less than £14.45 per month in April-June 2026 for their building cover business insurance based on the monthly cost when paying for the policy in one annual payment, excluding any interest charged on instalment payments.

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What our expert says...

“Around 26% of UK landlords have experienced rent arrears at some point over the past year, so it’s worth considering taking out extra cover, such as rent guarantee insurance.

“Pairing that with thorough reference checks when a new tenant moves in puts you in a much stronger position if things go wrong.”

Amy Rootham, Insurance expert

What do I need to get a quote?

To compare landlord insurance quotes with us, you’ll need some basic information to hand, including:

Your current insurance policy documents (if you have them).
Your property details and how long you have owned it.
Basic tenant information.
The level of cover you need.

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Landlord insurance explained

Learn what landlord insurance covers, how it works and what to consider when letting a property

Estate agent showing people around a home

Rent protection

Landlord rent guarantee insurance

This cover can offer peace of mind if your tenants default

Landlord advice

Becoming a landlord

See our simple step-by-step guide to starting a portfolio

Landlord home emergency cover

Get speedy support if you need an urgent repair or call-out

Unoccupied property landlord insurance

You may need extra cover if the property will be empty for 60 days or more

See all landlord insurance guides

FAQs

How do I make a claim on my landlord insurance policy?

First, if a crime has taken place, call the police and get a crime reference number. Then contact your insurance provider.

Otherwise, contact your provider as soon as possible. Many have 24-hour helplines and can guide you through the claims process.

Can I get landlord insurance for multiple properties?

It’s possible to get landlord insurance for multiple properties. There are a couple of options:

Insure each property individually – you can compare policies tailored to suit each property.
Multi-property landlord insurance – we can’t help you compare policies and prices for this, but you can contact insurance providers directly for a quote.

Is landlord insurance in the UK tax deductible?

Yes, landlord insurance is tax deductible.

Do I need landlord insurance if I live in the property?

It depends on whether the person you’re renting to is a tenant or a lodger.

If you have a tenancy agreement, which means you can’t enter the person’s room without permission, you’ll need landlord insurance. You’ll need to specify that you live in the property when you buy landlord insurance.

If you have a lodger – that’s someone who lives in your home and shares living space with you – then you may need to update your home insurance to cover this.

Does landlord insurance cover Airbnb rentals?

No, most standard landlord insurance policies won’t cover properties that are being used for short-term rentals, such as Airbnb.

You may need specialist host insurance for an Airbnb.

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Reviewed 28 Aug 2026 by Amy Rootham Insurance expert

Amy helps make sure you get the best value when choosing insurance. Thanks to more than four years’ experience at Compare the Market, she understands what people look for, working closely with insurance providers to offer you deals and services that are fair, easy to understand and right for your needs.

Methodology

¹51% of our customers were quoted less than £251.51 for their building cover business insurance in April-June 2026.

²Based on Simply Business customers buying through Compare the Market

³Based on the % of respondents claiming they have used Compare the Market in the last 12 months vs. other leading PCWs. Source: Savanta BrandVue Financial Services, National Representative Survey of 12,257 respondents (June 2026)

⁵51% of our customers were quoted less than £79.17 for their public liability business insurance in April-June 2026.

⁶Correct as of June 2026.