Why you need landlord insurance
Letting a property changes the risk, so insurers require specific landlord (buy-to-let) insurance. Letting on a standard residential policy can invalidate it — leaving you uninsured when you most need cover.
Landlord Insurance & Rent Guarantee: What Cover Do You Need?
6 min readLast reviewed: June 2026
Standard home insurance won’t cover a let property — and the right landlord cover protects your biggest asset and your rental income. Here’s what landlord insurance includes, whether you need rent guarantee cover, and what lenders typically require.
On this page
What landlord insurance covers
- •Buildings insurance — the structure itself (often required by your lender).
- •Landlord contents — any furnishings you provide.
- •Property owners’ liability — claims from tenants or visitors.
- •Optional extras: loss of rent, accidental or malicious damage, and home emergency cover.
Rent guarantee & legal expenses
Rent guarantee (rent protection) insurance pays your rent if a tenant defaults, usually paired with legal-expenses cover for possession proceedings. It typically requires referenced tenants and a compliant tenancy, so your paperwork matters.
What lenders and the law expect
Buy-to-let mortgage lenders usually require buildings insurance to at least the reinstatement value. Most other landlord cover isn’t legally mandatory, but going without is a significant risk to your asset and income.
How PropertyApp helps
- •Store each policy and its renewal date in the property’s documents.
- •Compliance-calendar reminders before a policy lapses.
- •Link cover to the right property and tenancy.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need special landlord insurance?
Yes — a standard home policy usually won’t cover a let property and could be void. You need landlord/buy-to-let cover.
Is landlord insurance a legal requirement?
Buildings cover is typically required by your mortgage lender; most other cover is strongly advised rather than legally required.
What is rent guarantee insurance?
Cover that pays your rent if the tenant defaults, usually with legal expenses for possession — typically requiring referenced tenants.
Does it cover the tenant’s belongings?
No — tenants insure their own contents; your contents cover is only for items you provide.
When should I review my cover?
At each renewal, and whenever you change the property, the furnishings or the tenancy type.
This guide is general information, not professional tax or legal advice. Rules, rates and thresholds change — check GOV.UK and take advice for your own situation.
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