Landlord insurance
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What is landlord insurance?
Landlord insurance is designed for people who rent out both residential and commercial property.
It can cover costs if your property is damaged, as well as compensation and legal costs if someone is accidentally injured or their property is damaged and you're responsible.
Residential landlord insurance bought through Superscript comes with two core covers, with optional covers you can add depending on your needs and requirements.
Why consider landlord insurance?
Landlords come in all shapes and sizes, but the one thing all landlords need is an insurance policy that's right for them. Usually, a standard home insurance policy won’t do. Read about the important differences between home insurance and landlord insurance.
As a landlord, there are several risks you might want to consider. Whether you're keeping your tenants safe, covering your contents or safeguarding against unpaid rent or home emergencies, you’ll want insurance that can keep up.
That's why when you buy your cover online through Superscript, you can:
- Pick the covers you want and leave the ones you don’t
- Pay only for what you need, when you need it
- Fee-free policy adjustments if things change
- Insurance specifically designed for UK landlords
- Cover for commercial and residential landlords
- Choose optional covers depending on what you want included in your policy
- Multi-property savings online of up to 17.5% on residential properties
Be quote confident
We're big on fairness. So if you find a lower price for a comparable quote, we won't just match it — we'll go one better and beat it.
So even better than apples to apples, apples to better apples. We're talking Galas to Braeburns.
As you'd expect, T&Cs apply.
Landlord insurance for many different property types
We work in partnership with leading insurers to design a comprehensive range of covers to meet the needs of landlords of all kinds.
Residential landlord insurance
Cover that’s specifically designed for landlords of one or more residential properties in the private rental sector (PRS). This includes student houses, houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and many more in between.
Commercial landlord insurance
Cover that’s designed for landlords with one or more commercial properties let out to business tenants. This includes shops, office space, workshops, warehouses and mixed-use buildings.
Insurance for landlords with multiple properties
Insure up to 10 residential properties when you buy your cover online, and your multi-property saving will be automatically applied. The saving varies depending on the number and type of properties you insure.
Landlords’ insurance extras
Add a host of optional covers, including landlords' legal protection and rent guarantee and home emergency cover, helping to protect your rental property from the unexpected.
What our expert says
Martyn Hall, Underwriting Lead
"Many people think landlord insurance and standard home insurance are the same — but they’re not. If you’re renting out a property and only have a household policy, there’s a real risk your claim could be declined."
What does landlord insurance include?
Residential landlord insurance bought through Superscript comes with two core covers. These can cover damage to your rental property and costs you may have to pay if someone is injured or their belongings are damaged and you’re responsible.
Property damage, including fixtures, fittings and contents
Property damage is included as standard. It can cover the cost of repairing or replacing your building, fixtures, fittings and contents if they’re damaged by things like:
- Fire, lightning and explosions
- Storms and floods
- Water leaking from tanks, pipes and drains
- Theft or attempted theft if someone violently breaks in
- Someone deliberately damaging the property
- Riots
- Vehicles or animals hitting the property
Fixtures and fittings are part of the property itself, such as kitchen units and bathroom suites. Contents are things you own and provide for tenants, such as furniture, carpets and white goods. Both can be covered if they're damaged by something included in your policy.
There are other costs it can cover too. For example, if your residential property is damaged and it can't be lived in, it could also cover alternative accommodation costs.
You can also choose to add cover for accidental damage as well as damage caused by the ground beneath or around the building moving. This includes subsidence, ground heave or landslip.
Property owners' liability
Property owners’ liability is also included as standard.
If someone is accidentally injured because of your property, or their belongings are damaged, you could be held responsible. This cover could pay your compensation and legal costs.
You can find the full details in your quote or policy schedule.
Optional covers for landlord policies
You can also add extra cover, depending on your property, tenants and requirements.
Loss of rent insurance
If damage to your rental property means you can't collect rent as normal, you may want to consider loss of rent to cover missing rental income.
You can choose to cover your lost rent for between one and five years. This doesn’t cover rent because a tenant doesn’t pay you. If you'd like cover for rent if a tenant stops paying, choose rent guarantee insurance below.
Rent guarantee and legal protection insurance
Add rent guarantee and legal protection to your residential landlords' insurance to help protect your rental income if tenants stop paying rent.
Cover can also help with legal expenses linked to repossession proceedings, tenancy disputes and rent recovery.
Employers' liability
If you employ staff — like an admin assistant or maintenance person — employers’ liability insurance is usually a legal requirement.
Employers’ liability insurance is designed to provide financial cover in case one of your employees is injured or becomes ill, or their property is damaged because of their work.
Terrorism
Terrorism insurance is designed to cover damage or loss caused by an act of terrorism. It can also cover rent you may lose as a result.
Damage caused by terrorism isn't included in the standard property damage cover.
Landlords’ home emergency cover
Add landlords’ home emergency cover to your residential landlord insurance for support when something urgent happens at your rental property.
It could help with emergency call-outs, temporary repairs and tenant accommodation after sudden problems like boiler breakdowns, plumbing failures, power issues, roof leaks or pest infestations.
You can’t add this particular cover online just yet, but our Customer Success Team can help. Give us a call on 0330 058 3473 or email hello@gosuperscript.com, and we’ll get you sorted.
What isn't covered by landlords' insurance?
Like all insurance, there are some things and situations that residential landlord insurance can’t cover. Exactly what's excluded depends on the covers you choose, but here are a few important examples:
- Wear and tear: things wearing out or getting worse over time aren't covered. This includes rust, corrosion, damp, wet or dry rot
- Unpaid rent: the core policy doesn't cover rent because a tenant doesn't pay you. If you include the optional loss of rent insurance, rental income lost following damage could be covered. You might also want to consider rent guarantee insurance, which is also an optional insurance
- Some damage to empty properties: if a building is unoccupied, damage caused by things like storms, floods, theft, deliberate damage and burst pipes isn't covered
- Faulty work or materials: damage caused by faulty design, poor workmanship or faulty materials isn't covered
- Cyber risks: digital and cyber risks aren't covered by the optional terrorism cover
- Asbestos claims: property owners’ liability doesn't cover injury or damage caused by exposure to asbestos
There are other exclusions, limits and conditions, so check your policy documents to see exactly what's covered.
Once you've completed a quote, you'll be able to view a summary of cover. Please always refer to your policy documents for full details around exclusions, terms and limits of your customised cover. Read our guide to understanding your policy documents.
Cover Plus — Broking service without the price tag
If you’re a landlord looking to cover large property portfolios, including industrial or commercial properties, you might be interested in Cover Plus. Get a fast, effective and personal service built for landlords with specific needs.
Find out if you're eligible, or speak to our team.
Save when you insure multiple properties
If you have more than one residential rental property, you can insure up to 10 properties when you buy your cover online.
When you insure multiple residential properties online, you could save up to 17.5% on your premiums.
Your savings will depend on the number and type of properties you insure.
We insure a large variety of property types
Renting out a residential property, commercial premises or more than one property? Explore the landlord insurance options relevant to you.
- Studio apartments
- Blocks of flats
- Flats and houses
- Commercial units
- Mixed commercial and residential properties
- Portfolios of up to 10 properties
- Student houses
- Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs)
To check if we cover your needs as a landlord, simply click 'Start your quote'.
If you are looking to insure a house in multiple occupation (HMO), commercial properties or mixed-use buildings, you’ll need to speak to one of our friendly team who can help. Just give us a call on 0330 058 3473 or drop us an email at hello@gosuperscript.com.
Landlord insurance claims
Residential landlord insurance can cover a range of accidents and risks, both in relation to your property and your tenants. Here are a few examples of possible claims scenarios.
Damage to your building
If flooding leaves your rental property badly damaged and in need of major repairs, landlord insurance can help cover the cost of putting things right, so you can get your property back up and running sooner.
Lost rental income
If a fire leaves your rental property uninhabitable, landlord insurance can cover the rental income you’d have received while repairs are carried out — helping you avoid a gap in income while your tenants can’t live there.
Injury to a tenant
If a tenant is injured because your rental property is unsafe or damaged, you could be held legally responsible. Landlord insurance can help cover legal costs and compensation claims linked to tenant injuries.
How do landlord insurance claims work?
We’ve laid out a guide to the process and timescales you can expect when you need to make a claim under your policy.
If you’re ever unsure whether you can or should claim, it’s best to contact us, and we can let you know. Learn more about when and how to make a claim.
Notify us of the claim
The quickest way to notify us of a claim is by logging in to your customer portal and submitting a form. Alternatively, you can contact us by email at claims@gosuperscript.com or by 24/7 freephone on 0800 772 3059.
This should be done as soon as possible and within 30 days of you becoming aware of anything which you think may be covered by your insurance.
We'll get on the case
We’ll acknowledge your claim within 24 hours. This means you’ll receive an email confirming your claim reference number and our contact information, should you need to speak to us.
You’ll hear from us again if we need any extra information to progress your claim.
As your claim progresses, we’ll keep you updated on the next steps.
A decision is made
We’ll let you know if your claim is successful or not. If your claim isn’t covered, we will always try to point you in the right direction and support you as best we can in getting back to normal.
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Landlord insurance FAQs
How much does landlord insurance cost?
The cost of landlord insurance depends on a few things, including:
- The type of property you’re insuring
- Whether it’s residential, commercial or mixed-use
- Where the property is located
- The rebuild value of the property
- The covers you choose
- Your claims history
- How many properties you want to insure
For example, insuring a single flat will usually cost less than covering a portfolio of properties or a large commercial building. You can learn more in our guide to what affects the cost of landlord insurance.
The quickest way to find out how much landlord insurance could cost you is by starting a quote.
What types of properties does landlord insurance cover?
Superscript’s landlord insurance can cover a wide range of residential and commercial properties, including:
- Flats and studio apartments
- Houses
- Blocks of flats
- Shops and retail units
- Offices
- Warehouses
If you are looking to insure a house in multiple occupation (HMO), commercial properties or mixed-use properties, you’ll need to speak to one of our friendly team who can help. Just give us a call on 0330 058 3473 or drop us an email at hello@gosuperscript.com.
What excess will I need to pay?
Excess is what you have to pay, or what is deducted, before a claim you make can be paid out. Most business insurance policies have a compulsory excess, which will be due on every claim you make.
The exact excess you will need to pay depends on the policy you’ve taken out. The details will be shown in your policy documents.
Can I insure multiple properties?
Yes. You can insure up to 10 residential properties when you buy your cover online.
When you insure multiple properties online, you could save up to 17.5% on residential property premiums. Your savings depend on the number and type of properties you insure.
What's the difference between rental income cover and rent guarantee insurance?
These two covers are designed for different situations.
Rental income cover Rental income cover can pay the rent you would have received if your property becomes uninhabitable after an insured event, like a fire or flood.
Rent guarantee insurance Rent guarantee insurance is designed to help if your tenant stops paying rent while still living in the property.
Is landlord insurance tax-deductible?
In many cases, yes. HMRC generally treats landlord insurance as an allowable expense, which means you may be able to claim the cost against your taxable rental income.
As tax rules can change and depend on your circumstances, it’s worth speaking to an accountant or tax adviser if you’re unsure.
Is landlord insurance a legal requirement?
No, landlord insurance is not a legal requirement in the UK.
However, if you have a buy-to-let mortgage, your lender might require you to have buildings insurance in place. Many landlords also choose additional cover for things like loss of rent, home emergencies and legal expenses.
What’s the difference between landlord insurance and home insurance?
Home insurance is designed for properties you live in yourself. Landlord insurance is designed for rental properties that are occupied by tenants.
A standard home insurance policy may not cover claims if the property is rented out, so it can be important to have the right policy in place.
Read more about the difference between landlord insurance and home insurance in our guide.
Does landlord insurance cover tenant damage?
Landlord insurance can cover certain types of tenant damage, depending on the policy and the cause of the damage.
For example, malicious damage by tenants may be covered, while general wear and tear usually isn’t.
Always check your policy documents for exclusions and limits.
Can I get landlord insurance for a commercial property?
Yes. Landlord insurance bought through Superscript can cover commercial properties. This can include properties like shops, offices and warehouses, as well as mixed-use buildings with both residential and commercial tenants.
If you’re looking for cover for these types of buildings, you’ll need to speak to one of our friendly team who can help. Just give us a call on 0330 058 3473 or drop us an email at hello@gosuperscript.com.
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Individual cover purchased online is offered on a standardised, non-advised basis and is not bespoke. Terms, conditions and coverage limits are predetermined by the Underwriter. If you require bespoke coverage offered on an advised basis, please contact our in-house broking team.
Authorised by the FCA
The FCA supervises UK financial services firms to protect consumers. We are directly authorised and regulated by the FCA and our Firm Reference Number is 656459. These details can be confirmed on the Financial Services Register at www.fca.org.uk or by calling the FCA on 0845 606 1234.
A-rated financial strength
Our insurance products are underwritten by Standard & Poor’s A-rated financial strength or higher. This means the underwriter has been independently assessed by the world’s leading credit rating provider and found to have a strong capacity to meet financial commitments (pay claims).
Protected by the FSCS
If you are a business with an annual turnover under £1m, charity with an annual income under £1m, or trust with net assets under £1m, then you will be entitled to compensation from the FSCS in the unlikely event we cannot meet our obligations. Full details and further information on the scheme are available at www.fscs.org.uk.
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