Landlord Insurance
Quick answer
Insurance built for let property, going beyond a standard home policy. It typically bundles buildings cover, property owners’ (public) liability, and optional extras such as loss of rent, malicious damage by tenants, and legal expenses. A normal residential home-insurance policy usually will not cover a property that is let.
At a glance
- Core cover
- Buildings + property owners’ liability
- Common add-ons
- Loss of rent, legal expenses, malicious damage
Full guide
Read the complete landlord guide on Landlord Insurance
Deadlines, fines and step-by-step compliance in our in-depth resource.
Open full guideWhy Landlord Insurance matters for landlords
Letting a property on ordinary home insurance can void the policy, leaving a landlord personally exposed to a major buildings claim or a liability suit. Mortgage lenders normally require buildings insurance as a condition of lending, and public liability protects against claims if a tenant or visitor is injured. Insurance is not legally mandatory in itself (except where a mortgage or lease requires it), but running a let without adequate cover is one of the largest uninsured risks a landlord can take.
Tracked inside LetCompliance
Stop tracking Landlord Insurance in spreadsheets
LetCompliance scores every property 0–100 across Gas Safety, EICR, EPC, deposits, Right to Rent and Fire Risk — with deadline reminders 90/30/14/7/1 days out and a court-ready PDF you can export in one click. Built for UK landlords + letting agents.
Official sources
LetCompliance editorial reviews this entry every quarter against the sources above. Always confirm specific duties with a qualified solicitor or your local council.
Related terms
Buildings Insurance
Cover for the physical structure of a property — walls, roof, floors and permanent fixtures — against risks such as fire, flood, storm and subsidence. For a leasehold flat the freeholder usually arranges block buildings insurance and recovers the cost through the service charge; for a house, the landlord arranges it directly.
Public Liability Insurance
Cover, often called property owners’ liability, that protects a landlord against claims if a tenant, visitor or member of the public is injured or their property is damaged because of the condition of the let property. It is usually included within a landlord insurance policy.
Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (Section 11)
The cornerstone repair-obligation statute for residential lets in England and Wales. Section 11 implies into every short-term residential tenancy a landlord obligation to keep in repair the structure and exterior of the property, and to keep in repair and proper working order the installations for water, gas, electricity, sanitation, space heating and water heating. Cannot be contracted out of. Breach is the basis for tenant disrepair claims, and Section 11 is what actually bites on a private landlord today — Awaab’s Law SLA enforcement is a social-sector regime the Renters Rights Act 2025 carries the power to extend to the PRS.
Landlord Database (Private Rented Sector Database)
A national digital register of private landlords and rented properties in England, established under the Renters Rights Act 2025. Every landlord must register and provide property details and proof of compliance (gas, electrical, deposit protection, EPC) before letting. Operated by central government, accessible to local councils and tenants. Failure to register is an offence with civil penalty up to £7,000 per breach, and a court can refuse a possession order under Section 8 if the property or landlord is not registered.
Landlord Licensing
Local authority schemes that require landlords to hold a licence to let property in a defined area. Three types: mandatory HMO licensing (national), additional licensing (smaller HMOs), and selective licensing (non-HMOs). Operating without a required licence carries fines up to £30,000 and can invalidate possession claims.
Landlord Ombudsman (Private Rented Sector)
A new, mandatory redress scheme for private landlords created by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. Every private landlord in England letting to assured tenants must join, giving tenants a free, independent route to complain about a landlord without going to court. The ombudsman can order an apology, corrective action and compensation, and its decisions bind the landlord.