Protect the furniture, furnishings and appliances you provide for your tenants with the Landlord Contents Insurance option from UKinsuranceNET. Our experienced advisers can help you find cover that suits your rental property and get a competitive quote.
What is landlord contents insurance?
Landlord contents insurance covers the items you provide in a rental property, rather than your tenant’s personal belongings. This can including carpets, sofas, beds and televisions, as well as protecting all your items inside the property from theft and damage.
Landlord buildings insurance is designed to protect the structure of the property, including its walls and roof. Contents insurance focuses on the items you provide inside it. Having both types of cover can help you protect your property and its contents.
Do landlords need contents insurance?
Landlord contents insurance isn’t a legal requirement, and UKinsuranceNET offer it as an optional cover to consider. However, if you let your property furnished or part-furnished, it’s worth thinking about how much it would cost to repair or replace the items you provide.
Even an unfurnished property may have carpets, curtains or appliances that belong to you; these may be classed as contents. Contents cover is often available as an addition to a wider landlord insurance policy, so it’s important to consider it when arranging your cover.
What does landlord contents insurance cover?
Generally, depending on the policy, landlord contents insurance may cover:
- Furniture you provide, such as sofas, tables, chairs, beds and wardrobes.
- White goods and freestanding appliances, such as fridges, freezers, cookers, washing machines and tumble dryers.
- Soft furnishings, including carpets, rugs, curtains and blinds.
- Contents in shared areas, such as furniture in communal lounges or kitchens in HMOs and multi-let properties.
Built-in or integrated appliances may be treated as part of the building rather than its contents. Contents policies generally cover damage or loss caused by specified events, which may include fire, flood, escape of water and theft. Some also offer new-for-old replacement, helping you replace covered items with new equivalents rather than receiving their depreciated value. You can speak to our advisers to see what’s included.
What isn’t covered by landlord contents insurance?
Landlord contents insurance doesn’t cover your tenant’s personal belongings, such as their clothes, laptops, TVs or furniture they bring to the property. General wear and tear, gradual deterioration and minor cosmetic damage are not usually covered either. Typically, landlord’s personal belongings will not be covered under contents insurance either; as the insurance usually covers only the contents left by the landlord for the tenants to use. Any of the landlords other personal belongings left at the property, for example within a locked garage, would not be included
Cover may also be restricted if the property is left unoccupied for longer than the period specified in your policy. Accidental damage and malicious damage by tenants may be available as optional extras, while valuable individual items may need to be declared separately. Your policy documents will set out the limits, conditions and exclusions that apply.
How much landlord contents cover do you need?
Start by listing the items you provide in the property and estimating what it would cost to replace each one with a new equivalent. Adding these figures together can help you choose a contents sum insured that reflects the total replacement cost.
It’s important to choose an accurate amount. If you’re underinsured, an insurer may reduce the amount paid for a claim. Review your sum insured whenever you add or replace items, and at renewal, so your cover continues to reflect what you provide.
How much does landlord contents insurance cost?
Landlord contents cover is usually added to a wider landlord insurance policy. Its cost will therefore depend on your property and the overall cover you choose.
Factors that may affect the price include:
- The value of the contents you want to insure.
- Security measures, such as locks, alarms or CCTV.
- The property’s location and type.
- Your chosen level of cover and any optional extras.
- The policy excess and relevant claims history.
Every property is different. Our advisers can help you compare options and find a competitive quote for the cover you need.
Landlord contents insurance vs tenant contents insurance
Landlord contents insurance is designed for the items you provide in the property. It does not protect your tenant’s own possessions, including their clothes, electronics or furniture.
Making this distinction clear in the tenancy agreement can help avoid confusion. Tenants can arrange their own contents insurance for their belongings, while you consider cover for the items you supply.
FAQs
Does landlord contents insurance cover my tenant’s belongings?
No. Landlord contents insurance is for the items you provide in the property. Tenants need their own contents insurance to protect their personal belongings.
What happens if my property is left empty for a while?
Policies usually have conditions for unoccupied properties. If your property is empty for longer than the period stated in your policy, your cover may be restricted. Check your policy wording for the time limits and conditions that apply. Or, here at UKinsuranceNET our team can help source an alternative provider to suit your needs.
Does a landlord have to provide contents insurance?
No, landlord contents insurance isn’t a legal requirement. If you furnish or part-furnish your property, though, it can help protect you against the cost of replacing covered items you provide if they’re damaged, lost or stolen.
