Buy to let insurance

Last updated: 21/05/2025
3 min read

Being a buy to let landlord can be a rewarding investment option, however, normal home insurance won't cover buy to let properties.

When considering insuring your buy to let property, there are many things to think about, such as what is covered, whether you need insurance and where to purchase it.

What is buy to let insurance?

Buy to let insurance is a specialist insurance to help landlords protect their rental propertieshere are many different types of landlord insurance, such as Rent Guarantee, Portfolio insurance and emergency assistance, 'buy to let insurance' generally refers to Buildings and Contents insurance.

Buy to let insurance differs from standard home insurance as it is specifically designed to cover the risks associated with renting out a property, such as tenant damage.

Do I need buy to let insurance?

Insuring your buy to let property is not a legal requirement, however, as a significant investment, it's an important consideration in order to properly protect it.

Many mortgage providers may also insist that you have cover in place, so it is worth checking whether this is the case with your agreement if you have a mortgage on the property.

As well as insurance, there are many other factors to consider before investing in a buy to let property.

What does buy to let insurance cover?

Different providers and insurance products will have different levels of cover, so it's useful to compare what is covered, not just price.

As well as protecting buildings and contents, Landlord Insurance policies can cover against:

Damage to your property (by the tenant)
Lost rent and re-letting costs - whilst the property is uninhabitable following an insured event, as well as the costs of providing alternative accommodation for up to two years after an insured event. Up to a limit of £50,000.
Re-letting costs - whilst the property is uninhabitable, as well as the costs of providing alternative accommodation for up to two years after an insured event.
Emergency overnight accommodation (for your tenant)
Emergency repairs
Liability for injury or loss related to your rental property brought by third parties such as tenants, visitors or cleaners.

How do I get buy to let insurance?

Before you purchase buy to let insurance, there is some information you need to have to hand.

Property postcode
Type of property
Date the property was built
How long you've owned the property
The amount of bedrooms
An approximate rebuild value

You can also explore our full checklist of everything you need to prepare when purchasing a buy to let property.

There are two main ways to purchase insurance from HomeLet. You can either buy online on your smartphone, laptop or computer or you can give us a call, and one of our friendly team will be happy to answer any questions that you might have about our cover and help you arrange your insurance.

We’re open from 08:30am - 17:30 Monday to Friday and 9:30 - 13:00 Saturday. Whatever you need, we’re happy to help.

How much does buy to let insurance cost?

There are many factors which can influence the price of buy to let insurance, therefore, there's no 'one-size-fits-all' price.

Cover levels, optional extras, property type, claims history, type of tenants, and the age and location of a property can all affect the price of an insurance policy.

A policy may also work out cheaper if you pay annually rather than monthly.

The quickest way to get an idea of how much insurance would cost for your property is to get a quick, easy online quote.

FAQs

What isn't covered in buy to let insurance?

There are some exclusions to buy to let insurance, including general wear and tear, damage caused by poor installation and deliberate damage. For full terms and conditions, please see our policy wording.

Can I insure more than one buy to let property?

Yes, HomeLet offer portfolio landlord insurance, which allows you to cover multiple rental properties under one policy. Having all of your properties covered under one policy can not only save time on admin, but also offer discounts.

Can I get landlord insurance without a mortgage?

You don’t need to have a mortgage to take out landlord insurance. Even if you own your rental property outright, insurance is still an important way to protect your investment from unforeseen risks.