The Cost of Landlord Insurance in the UK

Landlord insurance in the UK can start from around £170 to £185 per year for more basic cover, while broader market benchmarks put the median annual premium at around £285. What you actually pay depends on the property, postcode, rebuild value, tenant type, claims history, and whether you add extras such as contents cover, accidental damage, legal expenses, or rent guarantee.

If you let out a property, standard home insurance is not usually enough. Landlord insurance is designed for the different risks that come with renting, including tenant-related damage, liability claims, legal disputes, and loss of rent.

In this guide, we explain how much landlord insurance costs in the UK, what affects the price, and how to find the right level of cover for your property.

How much does landlord insurance cost in the UK?

The cost of landlord insurance varies depending on the property and the level of cover you choose, but current market benchmarks suggest basic landlord insurance can start from around £170 to £185 per year, while the median annual cost is around £285. More complex properties, wider cover, or higher-risk tenants can push premiums much higher.

This means many landlords will pay somewhere between entry-level pricing and the mid-hundreds per year, depending on risk and policy options. Houses in multiple occupation and other specialist lets can cost more again.

If you want a tailored price rather than a market average, you can compare landlord insurance quotes to see what cover could cost for your property.

Why landlord insurance prices vary

There is no single flat price for landlord insurance. Insurers assess a range of details before offering a quote.

Property type

A detached house, a flat, a converted property, and an HMO all present different levels of risk. Larger or more complex properties are often more expensive to insure. If you let a shared property, you may also want to read our HMO guide for landlords.

Rebuild cost

Buildings insurance is based partly on how much it would cost to rebuild the property, not how much it would sell for. A higher rebuild value usually means a higher premium.

Postcode

Where the property is located can have a big impact on the premium. Local claims trends, flood exposure, crime rates, and repair costs all affect insurer pricing.

Tenant type

Insurers may price policies differently depending on whether the property is let to professionals, families, students, or multiple tenants. Some tenant profiles are seen as higher risk than others. If you let to students, you may also find our student property guide for landlords useful.

Claims history

If you or the property have a history of claims, insurers may charge more.

Level of cover

Adding extras such as contents cover, accidental damage, legal expenses, home emergency, or rent guarantee will usually increase the premium.

What does landlord insurance usually cover?

Landlord insurance can be arranged in different ways, but policies often include some combination of the following.

Buildings insurance

This covers the structure of the property against insured risks such as fire, flood, storm, escape of water, or vandalism, subject to the policy wording.

Landlord contents insurance

If you provide furniture, white goods, carpets, curtains, or appliances, contents cover can help protect those items. You can explore cover options on our landlord insurance page.

Property owners’ liability

This can help if a tenant, contractor, or visitor is injured and you are found legally responsible. You can read more in our guide to property owners’ liability insurance.

Accidental damage cover

This can help cover unexpected damage caused by tenants or visitors, depending on the policy terms.

Legal expenses cover

This may help with legal costs linked to disputes with tenants, eviction-related issues, or rent recovery.

Rent guarantee insurance

This optional add-on may help cover unpaid rent if a tenant falls into arrears, subject to policy conditions and referencing requirements. If you are comparing cover options, visit our landlord insurance page for more detail.

Is landlord insurance more expensive than standard home insurance?

It often can be. Rental properties are insured differently from owner-occupied homes because the risk profile is different. Let properties may face greater exposure to liability claims, accidental damage, void periods, legal disputes, and loss of rental income.

That does not always mean landlord insurance is dramatically more expensive, but it does mean you should not assume a standard home insurance policy will provide the right level of protection for a rental property.

What affects the cost of landlord insurance most?

The biggest pricing factors are usually:

• the type and size of the property
• the rebuild cost
• the postcode
• the tenant profile
• whether the property is furnished
• your claims history
• the excess you choose
• any optional extras you add
• whether the property is an HMO or otherwise non-standard

If you want a more accurate price, the best option is to get a quote based on your own property details rather than relying on averages alone. You can get a landlord insurance quote here.

How to reduce the cost of landlord insurance

Landlords can often lower their premiums by improving risk and choosing cover more carefully.

Compare cover, not just headline price

The cheapest policy is not always the best value. A lower price may mean higher excesses, narrower cover, or more exclusions.

Avoid over-insuring

Make sure the rebuild cost and contents sums insured are realistic. Overstating them can push up premiums unnecessarily.

Increase your excess carefully

A higher excess can sometimes reduce the premium, but you need to be comfortable paying that amount if you claim.

Keep the property well maintained

Maintenance issues such as leaks, poor locks, or damaged roofing can increase the risk of a claim.

Choose only the extras you need

Legal expenses, accidental damage, rent guarantee, and home emergency can all be useful, but not every landlord needs every add-on.

Review your policy regularly

If the tenancy type, occupancy, or value of the property changes, it is worth reviewing your cover to make sure you are not paying for the wrong policy.

Do landlords legally need landlord insurance?

Landlord insurance is not generally a legal requirement in the same way as motor insurance, but many mortgage lenders require suitable buildings cover as a condition of a buy-to-let mortgage. Even where it is not compulsory, going without landlord insurance can leave property owners exposed to repair costs, liability claims, and loss of rent.

If you are unsure what level of protection you need, start by reviewing your landlord insurance cover options.

Is landlord insurance worth it?

For many landlords, yes. A serious escape of water claim, fire, storm event, tenant dispute, or period of unpaid rent can be expensive. Insurance helps protect the property, your potential liability, and in some cases your rental income.

The right policy depends on the property and the tenancy, but most landlords will want to consider at least buildings cover and liability protection as a starting point.

Get a landlord insurance quote

Landlord insurance costs vary from property to property, so the most accurate way to see what you could pay is to compare quotes based on your own details.

If you want cover tailored to your rental property, compare landlord insurance quotes and explore options for buildings cover, contents cover, liability protection, accidental damage, legal expenses, and rent guarantee.

FAQs

How much is landlord insurance in the UK?

Landlord insurance in the UK can start from around £170 to £185 a year for more basic cover, while broader benchmarks put the median annual premium at about £285. The exact cost depends on the property, location, tenant type, and cover selected.

What is included in landlord insurance?

Landlord insurance often includes buildings cover and property owners’ liability, with optional extras such as contents cover, accidental damage, legal expenses, home emergency, and rent guarantee.

Why is landlord insurance so expensive?

It can cost more when the property is higher risk, the rebuild cost is high, the postcode is more exposed to claims, the tenant type is more complex, or the policy includes wider optional cover.

Is landlord insurance cheaper without contents cover?

Usually, yes. A buildings-only policy will often cost less than a policy that also protects furniture, appliances, and other items supplied by the landlord.

Do I need landlord insurance for a flat?

Many landlords do, but the cover required can depend on whether the flat is leasehold, whether the freeholder arranges buildings cover, and what you provide inside the property.

Does rent guarantee increase the cost?

Yes, adding rent guarantee normally increases the premium because it is an optional extra rather than a core part of basic landlord insurance.

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