If you own a buy-to-let property, landlord insurance is not generally a legal requirement. However, if the property is mortgaged, your lender may require you to have buildings insurance as a condition of the mortgage. Even where it is not required, appropriate cover can help protect the property and your rental business against insured risks.
So, where can you buy landlord insurance? And how do you decide which landlord insurance β also known as buy-to-let insurance or let property insurance β is suitable for your property and circumstances?
Where can I buy landlord insurance?
There are several ways to source landlord insurance. For example, you might:
Buy direct
- approach an insurer or use a comparison website. If you do, compare the cover, exclusions, limits and excesses rather than looking at price alone;
Do the research yourself
- take time to compare the landlord insurance market and assess the features of different policies against the needs of your property and tenancy; or
Use a specialist broker
- speak to a specialist landlord insurance broker, such as us here are Cover4LetProperty, who can discuss your requirements and help you consider suitable cover options from the products available to them. Or get a landlord insurance quote here.
Whichever route you choose, what should you consider when comparing landlord insurance?
What are the key things to look for?
Start by looking at what each policy covers and how well that matches your property, tenants and individual circumstances. Price is important, but it should be considered alongside the scope of cover, policy limits, exclusions and excesses.
It is important to read the policy wording and understand the terms and conditions before buying. Cover varies between insurers and policies, and terms, conditions, limits and exclusions will apply.
Some of the areas in which apparently similar landlord insurance policies can differ include:
- subsidence cover β check whether subsidence is included and whether any special terms, exclusions or excesses apply to the property;
- policy excesses β the compulsory and voluntary excess can affect both the amount you pay for cover and the amount you would need to contribute towards a successful claim;
- trace and access cover β this may cover the cost of locating the source of a leak or other insured problem and making good damage caused during the investigation, subject to the policy terms and limits;
- tenant eligibility β insurers can have different underwriting criteria for the types of tenancy or tenant they will cover, so check that the policy is suitable for your intended letting arrangements;
- optional and additional cover β some policies allow you to add or select extra protection, so consider whether any additional cover is relevant to your circumstances;
- loss of rent β some policies may cover loss of rental income if an insured event, such as a fire or flood, makes the property uninhabitable. The circumstances, limits and length of cover vary by policy; and
- malicious damage by tenants β this is not included by every landlord insurance policy, so check whether it is covered and whether any conditions or limits apply.
Further reading: What you need to know about landlord insurance.
How can I save money on the cost of my policy?
When comparing landlord insurance, look for value rather than simply the lowest premium. A cheaper policy may provide less cover, have higher excesses or contain exclusions that matter to you. The aim is to choose cover that reflects the risks you want to insure and your particular circumstances.
There may also be legitimate ways to reduce the premium, depending on the insurer and property. For example, choosing a higher voluntary excess may reduce the premium, but it also means paying more towards a claim. Security measures, claims history and other underwriting factors may also affect the price. Always consider the overall cover and the amount you could afford to pay if you needed to claim.
I have read a lot about flood cover issues β what is the reality?
Flooding remains a significant source of property insurance claims. According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), insurers paid Β£1.2 billion in weather-related property claims during 2025, including Β£312 million for domestic flood claims. The availability, terms and cost of flood cover can depend on the individual property and its flood risk. You can read the latest ABI property claims figures for further context.
If you are concerned about flooding, check the long-term flood risk for the property using the official GOV.UK flood-risk service. An insurer may apply particular terms, excesses or exclusions depending on the level and type of risk, so check the policy documentation carefully.
Flood cover and underwriting decisions vary between insurers and individual properties. If you are unsure what protection is available or what the policy terms mean for your property, ask the insurer or broker to explain them before you buy.
Next steps
We have briefly considered some of the differences to look out for when searching for landlord insurance. Here at Cover4LetProperty, we can discuss your property and cover requirements and explain the options available through us. You can also get a quote online or over the telephone.
A buy-to-let property can represent a significant financial investment. Taking time to understand the cover available, compare the features that matter to you and read the policy terms can help you make an informed decision about how to protect it.
