Residential landlord insurance Residential landlord insurance

Get help with the costs when things go wrong with your rental property — from repairing insured damage to compensation if someone is injured and you’re responsible. Add cover for lost rental income and more.

Be quote confident. We'll beat the price of any like-for-like quote. T&Cs apply.

Why consider residential landlord insurance?

Residential landlord insurance is designed for people who rent out properties to live-in tenants.

Standard home insurance isn’t usually designed for rental properties, which means it may not provide the cover landlords need if something goes wrong.

Whether you own a single buy-to-let flat or a larger portfolio of rental homes, you can tailor your policy around the properties you own and the covers you need — from property damage and liability claims to lost rental income and more.

Why choose residential landlord insurance bought through Superscript?

  • Cover for property damage and claims if someone is injured included as standard
  • Buildings, landlord’s fixtures, fittings and contents included
  • Add loss of rent, employers’ liability and terrorism
  • Insure up to 10 properties online
  • Save up to 17.5% on residential property premiums when you insure multiple properties online

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.

What types of residential properties can be covered?

Residential landlord insurance bought through Superscript can cover a range of rental property types, including:

  • Houses
  • Flats and apartments
  • Studio flats
  • Apartment buildings
  • Student houses

To check if we cover your rental property, simply click 'Start your quote'.

If you’re looking to insure a house in multiple occupation (HMO) or mixed-use buildings — like a shop with flats above — 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 does residential landlord insurance cover?

Residential landlord insurance bought through Superscript comes with two core covers: property damage and property owners’ liability. You can add optional covers depending on what you want included in your policy.

1

Property damage, including fixtures, fittings and contents

Property damage is included as standard. It can cover your building, landlord’s fixtures and fittings and contents if they're damaged by things like:

  • Fire, lightning or an explosion
  • Storms or floods
  • Water leaking from pipes, tanks or drains
  • Someone breaking in or trying to break in
  • Someone deliberately damaging the property
  • Riots
  • Vehicles or animals hitting the property

Fixtures and fittings are things that form part of your rental property, like kitchen units or bathroom suites. Contents are items belonging to you as the landlord, like furniture, carpets and white goods. Both can be covered when they're damaged by something included in your policy.

This policy can cover some of the costs that come with the damage too. And if it means your tenants can't live in the property, some alternative accommodation costs can also be covered.

You can also choose to include accidental damage or subsidence, ground heave or landslip. This is where the ground beneath or around the building moves.

2

Property owners’ liability

If a tenant, visitor or someone else is accidentally injured, or their property is damaged, you could be held responsible as the property owner. Property owners’ liability is designed to cover the compensation and legal costs you might have to pay.

It also includes certain legal defence costs, including some costs if you’re prosecuted under health and safety laws. The maximum amount covered is shown in your policy schedule.

Optional residential landlord covers

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 lose rental income, loss of rent can cover that missing income.

You can choose to cover lost rent for between one and five years.

It can also cover lost rent in some other specific situations, including certain cases where damage nearby stops people accessing the property, or damage interrupts its water, gas, electricity or telecommunications supply.

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.

Rental 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.

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 can 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 cover online just yet, but our Customer Success Team can help. Give us a call on 0330 058 3473 or drop us an email at hello@gosuperscript.com.

Employers' liability

If you employ staff to help manage your properties — like maintenance workers, administrators or cleaners — you may be legally required to have employers’ liability insurance.

This cover can help with legal costs and compensation claims if an employee becomes ill or injured because of their work.

Terrorism

You can add terrorism cover for damage or loss to your insured property caused by an act of terrorism. It can also cover rental income you lose as a result.

What isn't covered by residential landlords' insurance?

There are some things residential landlord insurance doesn't cover. 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
  • Some damage while your property is empty: Different rules apply once a property is classed as unoccupied. This can mean things like storm, flood, theft, deliberate damage and burst pipes aren't covered
  • Poor workmanship or faulty materials: Damage caused by faulty design, poor workmanship or faulty materials isn't covered
  • Asbestos: Property owners’ liability doesn't cover injury or damage caused by exposure to asbestos
  • Some losses under terrorism: Optional terrorism cover doesn't include digital or cyber risks. Other exclusions also apply

Always check your policy documents for full exclusions, terms and limits.

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.

Insuring more than one property?

You could save up to 17.5% on your residential property premiums when you insure multiple properties online.

You can insure up to 10 properties when you buy your cover online, with the savings applied automatically as you add properties. The amount you save depends on the number and type of properties you insure.

What our expert says

Martyn Hall, Senior Underwriting Lead

"Many landlords assume standard home insurance will cover rental properties — but that’s not always the case. Residential landlord insurance is designed specifically for rental homes and the risks that come with tenants, liability and property damage."

Read more

Residential landlord insurance claims examples

Here are a few examples of how residential landlord insurance could help if you need to make a claim.

Damage to your building

A flood causes significant damage to your insured residential property, and repairs are needed. Property damage can cover the cost of repairing damage caused by a flood, getting your tenants back into their home and rental income coming in for you.

Lost rental income

A fire damages your insured property, and you lose rental income while the damage is dealt with. If you've added loss of rent, it can cover the rental income you lose following the damage, for the period you've selected.

Injury to a tenant

Your tenant is accidentally injured because of the property, and you're responsible as the property owner. Property owners’ liability can cover the compensation and legal costs you have to pay, up to the maximum amount shown in your policy schedule.

Our claims expert says

Lauren Wootten, Head of Claims

“If something happens to your property, tell us as soon as you can. Photos, receipts and other relevant information can help us understand what’s happened, but you don’t need to have everything figured out before getting in touch. We’ll explain what information we need and what happens next.”

How do claims work?

1

You make a claim

Log in to your online portal and go to the ‘Make a claim’ section. There, you can make a claim directly — there's no need to call us.

We'll ask you for some details about your claim, including a crime reference number (if applicable), the date of loss or claim made against you, the type of claim and its detailed description. You can also attach any relevant documentation.

2

We'll get on the case

Once submitted, your claim will be assessed.

If the claim is large, we may ask you for a bit more information. For smaller claims, you may be able to proceed without further information.

Either way, we'll keep you regularly updated by email.

3

Your claim is settled

After it's been assessed, we'll let you know if your claim has been successful or not.

If items have been lost, stolen or damaged, we might arrange for the items to be replaced or make a payment to you.

If you’re liable for something, we will assist you with legal support.

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Landlord insurance FAQs

What affects the cost of residential landlord insurance?

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

  • The type of property you own
  • The property location
  • The rebuild value
  • The number of properties you insure
  • The tenants living there
  • Your claims history
  • The covers you choose

The quickest way to find out how much landlord insurance could cost you is by starting a quote.

Is residential landlord insurance a legal requirement?

Residential landlord insurance is not usually legally required in the UK.

However, many landlords choose to get landlord insurance because standard home insurance may not cover rented properties. If you have a mortgage, your lender may also require it.

What happens if my rental property is empty?

If your residential property is empty or doesn’t have a tenant for more than 45 days, we’ll treat it as unoccupied.

In this case, you’ll need to let us know. Your cover may change while the property is unoccupied, and you’ll need to take some extra steps, like checking it every week and keeping it secure.

If you already have a signed tenancy or lease when your policy starts, different rules can apply. Check your policy documents for the full details.

What excess will I need to pay?

YExcess is what you have to pay, or what is deducted, before a claim you make can be paid out. Most policies have a compulsory excess, which will be due on every claim you make.

Your exact excess will depend on the policy you’ve taken out and will be shown in your policy documents.

Can I insure multiple properties?

Yes. You can insure up to 10 properties when you buy your cover online.

You could also save up to 17.5% on residential property premiums when you insure multiple properties. Your savings depend on the number and type of properties you insure.

Can I change or cancel my policy?

Yes. You can make changes to your policy at any time, without paying admin fees.

You can also cancel your policy at any time with immediate effect or for a date in the future. Please note that cancellation fees apply if you cancel before your policy term ends.

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