Landlords Insurance
Protect your rental properties from tenant claims, property damage and liability incidents with specialist landlord cover.
Get in touchWhat is landlords insurance?
Landlords insurance is a specialist policy designed to protect finance and property professionals from the risks of advising clients, managing transactions and handling sensitive financial data. It typically includes professional indemnity, public liability and cyber liability.
Working in finance and property involves significant professional liability. Incorrect valuations, compliance failures and advisory errors can lead to substantial claims from clients, lenders and regulators.
Find cover options from specialist insurers who specialise in covering finance and property businesses, so your cover reflects the specific risks and regulatory requirements of your profession.
Public Liability
Covers claims from tenants and visitors for injury or property damage at your rental properties.
Buildings and Contents
Covers your rental property buildings against fire, flood, storm and other insured perils.
Commercial Legal Expenses
Covers legal costs for tenant disputes, eviction proceedings and rent arrears recovery.
Business Interruption
Covers lost rental income if your property is uninhabitable due to an insured event.
Who needs landlords insurance?
Buy-to-let landlords
Renting out residential investment properties
HMO landlords
Operating houses in multiple occupation
Portfolio landlords
Managing multiple rental properties
Holiday let landlords
Renting properties on a short-term holiday let basis
Landlord obligations and insurance requirements
Landlords have a statutory duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to ensure rental properties are safe and meet fire safety standards. Gas safety certificates (annually for gas appliances), electrical installation condition reports (every 5 years as of July 2024), and EPC (Energy Performance Certificates) are now mandatory. Buildings insurance is not a legal requirement, but lenders require it as a condition of any buy-to-let mortgage. The Tenant Fees Act 2019 restricts deposits and fees.
From April 2025, properties with an EPC rating F or lower cannot be let (subject to limited exemptions). Landlords must also comply with deposit protection rules and register deposits within 30 days. Professional indemnity insurance is not typically required for landlords, but building insurance and liability cover protect against claims from tenants and third parties.
Landlords face liability under the Latent Defects Act if they fail to disclose known defects to tenants. They must also ensure they comply with recent regulations on damp and mold (now a criminal offence in Scotland; civil enforcement in England). Landlords should ensure their insurance covers liability for accidental injury or damage caused by the property's condition.
How much does landlords insurance cost?
£150 – £400 per year per property for standard buildings insurance; properties with additional liability or specialist cover may cost £500 – £1,200
Real claims: what landlords insurance covers
A landlord failed to ensure a gas boiler received an annual safety check. The boiler malfunctioned, causing carbon monoxide poisoning of a tenant. The tenant required hospitalisation and suffered long-term health effects. Compensation was claimed for medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.
Landlords insurance covered the liability claim, which included medical costs, loss of earnings, and pain and suffering damages. The landlord's insurers appointed legal representation.
£36,200 total — £28,000 compensation (medical costs, lost earnings, pain and suffering), £5,200 legal defence costs, and £3,000 medical expert fees
A landlord's property had poor electrical wiring and damp problems. A tenant suffered an electrical shock (non-fatal) and subsequently developed a serious respiratory infection due to mold. Two separate injury claims totaled £22,000.
Landlords insurance covered both claims under public liability and property damage provisions, as the insured property's defects caused the injuries.
£23,800 total — £22,000 injury compensation, £1,200 legal defence, and £600 expert assessment fees
A landlord's residential property had an unregistered deposit (held for 18 months). The tenant brought a claim for compensation of three times the deposit amount (£2,100) under the Housing Act 2004.
Whilst this is technically a tenant claim (not a traditional property damage claim), landlords insurance can cover certain statutory liabilities if the policy includes tenant liability cover.
£2,100 (deposit compensation only, plus £200 administration if covered under the policy)
WHY CECIL
Built differently.
Cover for landlords risks
Finance and property work carries significant professional liability. Cecil finds insurers who cover landlords specifically and understand the regulatory environment.
Regulatory compliance support
Professional indemnity covers the costs of defending regulatory complaints and investigations. Cecil ensures this is included in your policy.
Cyber protection for financial data
Landlords handle sensitive client data. Cecil makes sure your policy includes cyber liability to protect against breaches and their consequences.
Competitive quotes from specialist insurers
Get your cover options from finance and property insurance specialists. Cover that reflects your profession, not a generic commercial policy.
Common questions about landlords insurance
Do landlords need professional indemnity insurance?
Professional indemnity is essential for finance and property professionals. It protects you if a client claims your advice or work caused them a financial loss.
What level of professional indemnity do landlords need?
Cover levels depend on your regulatory requirements and the value of transactions you handle. Cecil helps you choose the right level for your profession.
Do landlords need cyber insurance?
Given the volume of sensitive data handled by finance and property professionals, cyber liability is strongly recommended. It covers breach notification, investigation and regulatory fines.
Does landlords insurance cover regulatory complaints?
Yes, professional indemnity covers the costs of defending complaints from regulators, ombudsmen and professional bodies.
Do landlords need public liability insurance?
If clients visit your office or you visit properties and sites, public liability covers injury and property damage claims. Many clients require it.
Is professional indemnity insurance required for landlords?
Professional indemnity insurance is not a legal requirement for landlords. However, buildings (structural) insurance is essential and is required by mortgage lenders. Landlords should also carry public liability insurance to cover accidental injury or damage to tenants or third parties caused by the property's condition.
What insurance do landlords need to protect against liability claims?
Landlords should carry buildings insurance (for structural damage), contents insurance (if furnishing the property), and public liability insurance (for tenant or visitor injuries). Specialist landlord insurance policies combine these with provisions for legal liability arising from the property's condition.
Are landlords liable for tenant injuries caused by the property's condition?
Yes. Landlords have a statutory duty to ensure rental properties are safe and meet health and safety standards. Tenants can claim damages if they suffer injury due to disrepair, damp, mold, or gas/electrical safety issues. Public liability insurance covers these claims.
What are the consequences of failing to comply with gas safety and electrical safety regulations?
Failure to provide annual gas safety certificates or comply with electrical safety regulations (now including 5-yearly condition reports) is a criminal offence and can result in fines up to £6,000+ and potential prosecution. Tenants can also claim civil damages for injuries caused by unsafe appliances.
Do landlords need to insure against unregistered deposit claims?
Deposits must be registered with a government-approved scheme within 30 days. Failure to do so exposes you to statutory compensation of three times the deposit amount. Some landlord insurance policies include cover for unregistered deposit claims, but prevention (proper registration) is the best protection.
Interested in Landlords insurance?
We will be in contact when Cecil launches.