Cheaper Property Insurance at the click of a button

Buy-to-Let Property Insurance, is specialist cover designed for property owners who rent out their property to tenants. It covers the risks that standard home insurance does not, reflecting the different risk profile of a property that is occupied by someone other than the owner.

A comprehensive policy typically includes buildings insurance, contents insurance for any furnishings you provide, and property owners liability cover.

Additional options can include loss of rent, legal expenses, accidental damage, malicious damage by tenants, and emergency cover.

Buy-to-Let Insurance is not a legal requirement in the UK. However, if your property is mortgaged under a buy-to-let (BTL) mortgage, your lender will almost certainly require buildings insurance as a minimum condition of the loan.

Beyond the mortgage requirement, the financial risks of being uninsured are significant. Fire, flood, tenant damage, or a liability claim could result in costs that far exceed the annual cost of a policy.

Given the legal responsibilities landlords hold towards tenants and the value of the investment being protected, having appropriate cover in place is strongly advisable even where it is not legally mandated.

Standard home insurance is designed for owner-occupied properties and typically becomes invalid or significantly restricted the moment a tenant moves in.

This is because letting a property is treated as a commercial activity by insurers, introducing different risks around wear and tear, tenant behaviour, and landlord liability.

Buy-to-Let Insurance is specifically designed for rented properties and covers the risks that arise from having tenants in occupation.

Using a standard home insurance policy for a rented property without disclosing the letting activity can result in claims being refused, leaving you without any financial protection.

A comprehensive Buy-to-Let policy typically includes buildings insurance covering the structure against fire, storm, flood, escape of water, theft, and vandalism.

If you let the property as furnished, contents insurance covers furniture, fixtures, and fittings you provide.

Property owners liability is included in most policies, protecting you against compensation claims if a tenant or visitor is injured at the property.

Optional additions include loss of rent cover, legal expenses for tenant disputes, accidental damage, malicious damage caused by tenants, and emergency cover for urgent repairs.

Malicious damage by tenants is not always included as standard in a Buy-to-Let policy, but it is available as an optional add-on with most specialist landlord insurers.

It covers deliberate damage caused by tenants beyond normal wear and tear, such as damage to fixtures, fittings, or the fabric of the building. Alongside malicious damage cover, theft by tenants can also usually be added to protect furnishings and contents you provide.

Maintaining an up-to-date inventory and conducting regular property inspections supports any claim you may need to make. RightSure For Business can help you find a policy that includes tenant-related damage cover appropriate for your tenancy type.

You should always insure for the rebuild cost, not the market value.

The rebuild cost is the amount it would take to demolish and fully reconstruct the property from scratch, including materials, labour, site clearance, and professional fees.

This figure is often significantly different from what the property could be sold for on the open market.

If you insure for the market value and it is lower than the actual rebuild cost, you will be underinsured and may not receive enough from a claim to fully restore the property.

If you are unsure how to calculate the correct rebuild cost, a specialist broker or chartered surveyor can help you establish the right figure.

If you have not had your rebuild valuation reviewed in the last couple of years, we strongly recommend that you do so to avoid any under insurance issues.

Yes. If you let your property as furnished, contents insurance is an important part of your policy.

It covers the furniture, soft furnishings, fixtures, and fittings you provide against damage, theft, or destruction.

Tenants are responsible for insuring their own personal belongings, but the items you supply as the landlord remain your responsibility.

The level of contents cover you need will depend on the value of the furnishings provided. RightSure For Business can help you arrange a combined buildings and contents policy tailored to your specific property and tenancy arrangements.

Standard Buy-to-Let Insurance is generally designed for longer-term tenancy arrangements.

If you let your property on a short-term basis, for example through a holiday let platform or on flexible tenancy terms, you may need a more specialist policy that explicitly covers short-term letting activity.

Short-term lets introduce different risks, including higher tenant turnover, more frequent periods of vacancy between lets, and increased exposure to accidental damage by guests.

When arranging your policy through RightSure For Business, it is important to describe your letting arrangements accurately so we can match you with the most appropriate cover from our panel of UK insurers.

Buy-to-Let Insurance premiums vary based on the location and size of the property, the rebuild value, the type of tenancy, the level of cover selected, and your claims history.

Furnished properties, HMOs, and properties in higher-risk areas typically attract higher premiums.

The most effective way to find competitive cover is to compare quotes from multiple specialist landlord insurers rather than going to a single provider.

RightSure For Business searches across a trusted panel of UK insurers on your behalf, and our Price Promise means that if you find a cheaper equivalent policy elsewhere within two days of purchase, we will give you a full refund.