Landlord contents insurance can cover movable items supplied in a rental property, subject to the policy’s limits, conditions and exclusions.
Landlord contents insurance can protect movable items that you own and provide for your tenants to use. This may include furniture, carpets, curtains, lamps and freestanding appliances, such as fridges and washing machines.
It can be useful if you rent out a furnished or partly furnished property. It may form part of a wider landlord insurance policy or be added as an optional type of cover.
Landlord contents insurance only covers items owned by the landlord. It does not usually protect tenants’ clothes, furniture, electrical goods or other personal possessions. Tenants would normally need their own contents insurance for these items.
Landlord buildings insurance usually covers the structure of the property and permanent parts of it. This may include the roof, walls, fitted kitchen units and bathroom suites.
Contents insurance is generally for items that can be removed from the property. The Association of British Insurers explains the main differences between buildings and contents cover.
Some items may not be easy to classify. Carpets, curtains and freestanding appliances are often treated as contents. Fitted cupboards, built-in ovens and bathroom fittings may be treated as part of the building. Check the policy definition of fixtures and fittings before buying cover.
The events covered depend on the insurer and policy. Cover may include loss or damage caused by:
A policy will not cover every type of loss. Any claim must meet the policy’s cover terms and must not fall within an exclusion. Cover will also be subject to any limits, conditions and exclusions.
You will usually need to choose a contents cover limit. This should reflect the cost of replacing all the landlord-owned items at the property. There may also be separate limits for certain items.
Damage caused by tenants is not covered by every policy.
Some insurers may exclude theft, accidental damage or malicious damage by tenants unless you have selected specific cover. A separate claim limit may apply.
The Financial Ombudsman Service has considered a case where tenant-related theft and malicious damage were excluded, while accidental damage was subject to separate exclusions. This shows why it is important to check the full policy terms and schedule.
Normal wear and tear, gradual damage, poor maintenance and damage caused by pets may also be excluded. Whether a claim is accepted will depend on what happened, the evidence provided and the policy terms.
Before choosing a policy, check:
An insurance excess is the amount you must pay towards an accepted claim. Different excesses may apply to different types of damage.
Cover may also change when a property is empty between tenancies. The Financial Ombudsman Service explains that home insurance policies can restrict certain risks while a property is unoccupied, such as theft, malicious damage or escape of water.
Keep an up-to-date inventory with photographs, receipts and details of each item’s condition. This may help support a claim, but it does not guarantee that the insurer will pay it.
We arrange landlord insurance through a range of insurers. We can discuss whether you need buildings cover, contents cover or both.
Available cover, limits, exclusions, price and acceptance will depend on the property, tenancy, claims history and full details given to the insurer. Always check the policy documents before buying to make sure you understand what is and is not covered.
