Being a landlord is never easy and if you are a buy to let landlord you will need to protect your assets not only to pay the mortgage but to satisfy your mortgage lender.
You will need at a minimum buildings cover that will repair or rebuild your property, but it may be worth including further protection in your insurance policy.
Other cover that is available includes landlord’s contents, malicious damage by tenants, property owner’s liability, loss of rent and accommodation costs in the event of an insured incident. Whether you own one or multiple properties there is a wide range of insurance available to meet your needs, so we have explored what is available below.
The table below gives a quick price comparison of the top UK providers for buy to let insurance.
| Company | Minimum cover | Maximum cover |
|---|---|---|
| Aviva | Not stated | Not stated |
| RSA | Not stated | Not stated |
| AXA | Not stated | £5 million |
| Direct Line Group | Not stated | £10 million |
| Ageas | Not stated | Not stated |
| Lloyds Bank | Not stated | Not stated |
| Covéa | Not stated | Not stated |
| NIG | Not stated | £10 million |
| Churchill | Not stated | £5 million |
| UK General Insurance | Not stated | Not stated |
| ARO Insurance | Not stated | £5 million |
* The facts and figures included here come from each company’s website and were accurate at the time of writing but may have since changed. Also, please keep in mind these may not be apples to apples comparisons as each provider offers different solutions. This guide should be used as a starting off point for more research on your part.
Below we profile each of the companies’ services and features in a bit more detail.
Topics
1. Aviva
Some of the features and benefits of Aviva’s buy to let insurance.
- Home insurance for landlords
- Covers buildings and contents
- Unlimited contents cover
- Alternative accommodation for tenants
- Covers lost rental income
- Finding and fixing leaks
- Covers fire, flood, theft and subsidence
- Includes fixtures and fittings including outdoor items
- Covers all landlord belongings
- Includes replacement locks
Aviva is an insurance provider that offers a wide range of business and domestic insurance products which includes home insurance for landlords. They offer this insurance to all types of landlords whether you are a first-time landlord with a buy to let mortgage or have a portfolio of properties.
Aviva’s home insurance for landlords offers protection for buildings and contents against fire, flood, theft and subsidence which can be purchased as standalone or combined cover. Their cover can provide loss of income cover and alternative accommodation for tenants in the event of an insured incident. Their cover includes property, contents belonging to the landlord and replacement locks.
2. RSA
Some of the features and benefits of RSA’s buy to let insurance.
- Property insurance
- Buildings insurance
- Malicious damage and theft by tenants
- Loss of rental income and alternative accommodation costs
- Property owners’ public liability insurance
- Designed for those with up to 20 properties
- Residential buildings up to £1 million
- Commercial or mixed-use buildings up to £2.5 million
- Blocks of flats up to £2.5 million
- Available through a broker only
RSA is an insurance provider that offers a range of business insurance products that cater for a variety of risks and incidents. They provide both standalone cover and package insurance combining sector-specific products. Their product range includes property insurance which is a packaged policy for property owners.
RSA’s property insurance provides buildings and contents insurance for landlords with either residential, commercial or mixed-use buildings including flats with a value up to £2.5 million. They provide cover for property owners with up to 20 properties. It covers malicious damage and theft by tenants. It will also provide alternative accommodation and loss of rental income for insured events.
3. AXA
Some of the features and benefits of AXA’s buy to let insurance.
- Landlord Insurance
- Tailored insurance
- Suitable for landlords with up to 10 properties
- Buildings insurance
- Alternative accommodation for tenants
- Fixtures and fittings
- Landlord’s contents
- Up to £10 million property owners’ liability
- Offers a range of optional extras
- No interest on monthly instalments
AXA is an insurance provider that caters for small to medium-sized businesses offering a wide of business insurance products suitable for sole traders and the self-employed as well. They offer tailored insurance products for properties which include Landlord Insurance.
AXA’s Landlord Insurance offers a range of standard cover which includes property liability insurance up to £10 million, buildings insurance, alternative accommodation costs, cables and underground pipes cover, subsidence, ground heave and landslip cover. They can provide cover for up to 10 properties. They also offer a range of optional extras such as accidental damage cover, loss of rental income, contents cover and employer’s liability insurance.
4. Direct Line for Business
Some of the features and benefits of Direct Line for Business’ buy to let insurance.
- Landlord Insurance
- Building and landlord’s contents cover
- Glass and locks replacement
- Public liability cover of £2 million
- Option to increase public liability cover
- Re-house your tenants
- No administration fees mid-term
- 24/7 legal helpline
- Multi-property discount
- Guarantee to beat other quotes
Direct Line for Business is an insurance provider that offers a broad range of business insurance products which are tailored to meet the needs of specific professions and trades. One of their tailored products is Landlord Insurance which is designed for landlords with one to 15 properties to insure.
Direct Line for Business’ Landlord Insurance provides protection for buildings and landlord’s contents. Their cover includes public liability insurance of £2 million as standard with the option to increase it to £5 million or £10 million. It also covers glass and lock replacement and covers the cost of re-housing tenants after an insured incident.
Direct Line for Business website
5. Ageas
Some of the features and benefits of Ageas’ buy to let insurance.
- Property Owner’s insurance
- Tailored cover
- Suited to commercial and residential property lets
- Can cover one or multiple properties
- Buildings insurance
- Loss of rent
- Public liability
- Legal expenses
- Landlord’s legal protection
- Available only through a broker
Ageas is an insurance provider that offers a variety of combined business insurance products designed for specific needs or professions which they provide through a network of brokers. Their range of products includes Property Owner’s insurance which is designed to meet the needs of both commercial and residential landlords as well as business premises.
Ageas’ Property Owner’s insurance is a flexible product that can be tailored to meet your specific needs. You can choose between a variety of cover including buildings insurance, loss of rent, employer’s liability, public liability, legal expenses, and landlord’s legal protection which provides legal costs and expenses for residential landlords up to £50,000.
6. Lloyds Bank
Some of the features and benefits of Lloyds Bank’s buy to let insurance.
- Landlord’s Building Insurance
- Includes fire, flood, storms and vandalism
- Covers repair and rebuild costs
- Inflation protection included as standard
- Accidental damage
- Landlord’s contents
- Loss of rent
- Subsidence, landslip and heave
- Property owner’s and employer’s liability insurance
- Legal expenses
Lloyds Bank is a financial provider that has partnered with an insurance underwriter to provide its own range of insurance products for domestic and commercial markets. Their business insurance products include Landlord’s Building Insurance which is suitable for residential or commercial lets.
Lloyds Bank’s Landlord’s Buildings Insurance does not only cover buildings insurance but also includes a lot of other essential covers. This includes accidental damage, landlord’s contents, loss of rent, subsidence, landslip and heave, property owner’s liability, employer’s liability and legal expenses. They also include inflation protection to prevent inflation changes affecting the rebuild cost of the property.
7. Covea
Some of the features and benefits of Covea’s buy to let insurance.
- Residential Property Owners Insurance
- Buildings cover
- Free contents cover up to £5,000
- Property owner’s liability
- Subsidence cover
- Accidental damage content and fixtures
- 60-day unoccupancy terms
- Option to add accidental damage to buildings
- Option to increase contents insurance
- Suitable for single or multiple residential property lets
Covea is an insurance provider that offers tailored insurance products through a network of brokers. Their insurance packages are designed for specific industries and professions which includes Residential Property Owner’s Insurance that is suitable for owners with one or more residential properties.
Covea’s Residential Property Owners Insurance includes buildings cover and up to £5,000 of free contents cover. It also includes property owner’s liability insurance. The cover offers accidental damage to contents and fixtures, subsidence cover and 60-day unoccupancy terms. They also offer optional cover to increase the value of the landlord’s contents and to add accidental damage to the buildings insurance.
8. NIG
Some of the features and benefits of NIG’s buy to let insurance.
- Property Owners Insurance
- Tailored policy
- Building insurance
- Landlords contents
- Public liability
- Glass and sanitary ware
- Theft and malicious damage by tenant
- Option to increase cover levels
- Unoccupancy cover available up to a maximum of 90 days
- Offers a range of optional extras
NIG is an insurance provider that offers a variety of business insurance that has been packaged into products that have been created to meet the needs of specific trades and professions. Their product range includes Property Owners Insurance designed for both residential and commercial landlords.
NIG’s Property Owners Insurance offers a tailored product that includes buildings insurance up to £10 million, landlord’s contents up to £500,000, public liability up to £10 million, and glass and sanitary ware. The level of cover can be tailored to your needs and optional extras can be included such as rent receivable, employer’s liability, personal accident, legal expense and terrorism.
9. Churchill
Some of the features and benefits of Churchill’s buy to let insurance.
- Offers specific Buy to Let Insurance
- Also offer Landlord Insurance
- Tailored policy
- Choice of cover
- Building insurance
- Owners contents cover
- Loss of rent cover
- Legal expenses
- Landlord boiler cover
- Suitable for single or multiple properties
Churchill is a domestic and business insurance provider that offers a small range of business insurance products which are Landlord Insurance and Public Liability Insurance as the basic cover with a range of optional extras. Their Landlord Insurance is designed for single or multiple property cover.
Churchill’s Landlord Insurance includes Buy to Let Insurance along with a range of cover to build a comprehensive package. You can choose your cover from buy to let insurance, contents insurance, building insurance, landlord boiler cover, public and property owner’s liability cover up to £5 million, loss of rent up to £1 million, employer’s liability, legal expenses and terrorism cover.
10. UK General Insurance
Some of the features and benefits of UK General Insurance’s buy to let insurance.
- Let Property Insurance
- Tailored policy where you can build your own cover
- Buildings insurance
- Landlord’s contents cover
- Loss of rental income
- Rehousing costs
- Non-standard occupancy such as students
- Up to 60 days unoccupied cover
- Liability cover for accidents on the property
- Range of optional cover
UK General Insurance is an insurance underwriter offering business insurance products through a network of brokers. They offer business insurance products that cater largely for the rental market and leisure market, which includes Let Property Insurance which is designed for most property lets including non-standard occupancy such as students.
UK General Insurance’s Let Property Insurance is a tailorable policy offering building and/or landlord’s contents cover, accidental damage, loss of earnings and rehousing costs, and liability insurance for accidents on the property. It also offers up to 60 days of unoccupied cover. There are a range of optional extras such as extended unoccupied periods, malicious damage by tenants and legal expenses.
11. ARO Insurance
Some of the features and benefits of ARO Insurance’s buy to let insurance.
- Residential Landlord Insurance
- Covers a wide range of tenancies
- Will cover a variety of construction types
- Cover up to £5 million
- Buildings insurance
- Contents up to £50,000
- Temporary accommodation costs
- Loss of rent
- Property owner’s liability of £5 million
- Can add additional damage cover
ARO Insurance is an insurance provider that specialises in products that cater for small businesses and property owners with combined policies that are designed to offer comprehensive cover. They offer a range of property owners’ insurance which includes Residential Landlord Insurance.
ARO Insurance’s Residential Landlord Insurance is designed to meet the needs of most residential lets regardless of tenancy type or property construction. It offers protection of up to £5 million on buildings insurance and landlord’s contents up to £50,000. The cover includes providing temporary accommodation and loss of rental income. It also includes £5 million property owner’s liability insurance and it can be extended to include additional damage.
Financial Disclosure: We may be paid a fee if you purchase insurance via the Simply Business link at the top of this page.