01 · Building
Structure is not contents
Buildings insurance concerns the structure and permanent fixtures. Landlord contents concerns items you own. The tenant's possessions sit outside both.
Free private comparison builder · reviewed 15 September 2026
What landlord insurance cover should you compare?
Answer seven property questions and leave with a focused quote brief—not a one-size-fits-all product recommendation.
Describe the let
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Your comparison route
Standard landlord quote brief
Use this as a quote brief. It identifies questions and policy sections; it does not decide that a product is suitable.
Check before requesting prices
- 01Declare the exact letting useConfirm in writing that the insurer accepts the property as a let, including the occupancy and tenant type shown on the quote.
- 02Check the mortgage, lease and block-policy requirementsA policy may not be universally required by statute, but a lender, superior lease, freeholder or management agreement can still impose insurance conditions.
- 03Establish who insures the buildingCheck the title or lease, mortgage conditions, service-charge papers and current policy schedule before requesting quotes.
Cover sections to compare
Landlord-owned contents
Value only items you own, such as furniture, appliances, carpets or freestanding equipment. A landlord policy does not normally insure the tenant’s belongings.
Loss of rent after insured damage
Compare the insured trigger, maximum period and cash limit. This is different from cover for a tenant who simply stops paying.
Wording and conditions
Compare excesses and exclusions, not just the premium
Check the standard excess and any separate escape-of-water, subsidence, flood, malicious-damage or accidental-damage excess.
Keep maintenance outside the insurance assumption
Wear and tear, gradual deterioration, known defects and poor maintenance are commonly outside cover. Read the actual wording.
Check the unoccupied-property clause
Ask when cover narrows and whether inspections, heating, water shut-off or security records are required. Do not assume every policy uses the same number of days.
When the brief is ready
Compare like with like.
Check the policy schedule, wording, product summary, excesses and occupancy description. A cheaper quote with a missing section is not the same product.
Compare landlord insurance quotesCompare landlord insurance quotes from multiple insurers.
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02 · Rent
Damage is not default
Loss of rent following insured damage and rent-guarantee cover for arrears answer different risks and carry different conditions.
03 · Wording
The schedule decides
The cheapest headline premium says little without the insured use, limits, excesses, exclusions and duties after a loss.
Official checks
Verify the property and the firm
Building responsibility and rebuild cover
MoneyHelper explains the split between structure and contents, the need to insure for rebuilding rather than market value, and the importance of checking exclusions and unoccupied-property conditions.
Read MoneyHelper's buildings guide →Mortgage, letting and provider checks
GOV.UK says a mortgaged owner must get the lender's permission before renting. Check the property's legal duties separately and verify an unfamiliar insurance firm or intermediary before buying.
Questions landlords ask
Landlord insurance FAQ
Is landlord insurance required by law in the UK?
There is no single blanket UK rule requiring every residential landlord to buy a policy with that name. A mortgage, lease, block policy or other contract can still require suitable buildings insurance, and the property must be described accurately to the insurer. Legal and letting requirements also differ across the four UK nations.
Does buildings insurance cover a tenant’s belongings?
Normally no. Buildings cover protects the structure and permanent fixtures against the events in the policy. Landlord contents cover is for belongings the landlord owns. Tenants usually need their own contents insurance for their possessions.
Is loss of rent the same as rent-guarantee insurance?
No. Loss-of-rent cover commonly responds when insured physical damage makes a property uninhabitable. Rent-guarantee insurance concerns tenant default and has separate referencing, reporting, waiting-period and possession conditions.
Do I need separate buildings cover for a leasehold flat?
Often a freeholder or management company arranges a block buildings policy and recovers the cost through the service charge. Obtain the schedule and wording before buying duplicate cover, then identify any gaps for landlord contents, liability, rent or other risks.
Does this checker recommend an insurance policy?
No. It organises facts and comparison questions. Suitability depends on the full policy wording, property, occupancy, disclosures and your circumstances. Check an unfamiliar insurer or intermediary on the FCA Financial Services Register and obtain regulated help when needed.