Furniture
Landlord contents insurance can protect any furniture on the property that belongs to you and not the tenant and cover the cost of repairs or replacements
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What is landlord contents insurance?
Landlord contents insurance covers the cost of repairing or replacing items that belong to the landlord and are kept in a rental property. It protects things like furniture, appliances, and soft furnishings. If these items are damaged, destroyed, or stolen, the policy pays for repairs or replacements.
It’s different from landlord buildings insurance, which covers the structure of the property – walls, roof, fixtures and fittings. It’s also separate from tenant contents insurance, which protects the tenant’s personal belongings.
Contents-only cover may be suitable if you rent out a furnished property but the building itself is already insured elsewhere – for example, through a freeholder or block policy. If you own and let out the entire property, a combined buildings and contents policy is usually more appropriate, especially if you also want extra protection such as loss of rent, alternative accommodation, or subsidence cover.
Do landlords need landlord contents insurance?
As a landlord, you’ll be legally required to take out home buildings insurance. Contents insurance on the other hand isn’t a legal obligation but it can still offer valuable protection for landlords.
If you are providing items like furniture, electronics, and white goods for your tenants, you risk needing to replace these items if they're stolen or damaged, which can be expensive.
With contents insurance, you are protected from the cost of replacing these expensive items unexpectedly for such issues as escape of water, fire, or theft.
Some insurance providers also offer liability insurance to the property owner, in case any items within the property cause damage to tenants. Emergency cover add-ons can also provide extra protection against any unforeseen incidents relating to contents within the property e.g. an appliance breaks.
There are also a range of additional cover options that can be added to your policy to increase your protection. With accidental damage cover, for example, you can also protect your belongings from accidents like tenants spilling coffee on the carpet or knocking over the television.
What's covered by landlord contents insurance?
Landlord contents insurance will cover contents that belong to you that are stored on the property. Typical belongings you may have stored on the property that a contents insurance policy protects include:
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White goods & appliances
Contents insurance cannot cover any fixtures or fittings you install but it can cover any loose white goods, like washing machines and dishwashers
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Outbuilding contents
Not all providers will cover outbuildings, but those that do will cover important items you store in outbuildings, such as gardening equipment or BBQ equipment
What isn't covered by landlord contents insurance?
Some items may not be covered by a standard landlord contents insurance policy, meaning they’ll require an extra level of coverage for you to be able to claim. These can include:
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Unoccupied properties
Insurance providers will have special requirements to insure your property while it's unoccupied. Providers are also unlikely to cover you if the property is unoccupied for long periods
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Valuables
Contents insurance policies have a limit on how much you can claim for a single item. If you have high-value items that exceed this per-item limit, you may need to get specialist cover
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Wear and tear
Contents insurance policies are designed to protect your belongings that are accidentally damaged or stolen. They won't cover items that are damaged from wear and tear
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Illegal activity
Contents insurance won't cover any damage or loss to your belongings if the property was used for or involved in illegal activity, even if the insurable loss/damage is unrelated
Our expert says…
As a landlord, you will need to have buildings insurance in place while contents cover is optional. But it is definitely something most landlords should strongly consider – particularly if you let out any properties furnished. A good insurance policy would cover you if your items are lost, stolen, or damaged, and you should also be able to get cover for accidental damage as an optional add-on.
David McDermottroe Insurance & Personal Finance Expert
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How much does landlord contents insurance cost?
The premiums you’ll pay for landlord contents insurance will depend on a number of factors:
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Your contents
The higher the total value of your contents, the more you’ll pay. Items above the insurer’s single-item limit may need separate cover.
To avoid underinsurance, list everything you provide – furniture, appliances, soft furnishings – and use realistic replacement values.
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Your security
Better security usually means lower premiums. Simple upgrades, such as approved door and window locks or a basic alarm system, can reduce the risk of theft and may lead to discounts.
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Your location
Properties in areas with higher crime or flood risk often cost more to insure because claims are more likely.
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Your policy choices
Add-ons like accidental damage, new-for-old cover, or landlord liability cover increase protection but also raise the price.
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Your excess
Choosing a higher voluntary excess can bring premiums down. For example, increasing your excess from £100 to £250 often reduces the monthly cost because insurers expect you to claim only for larger losses.
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Your claims history
Frequent or recent claims can push premiums up, as insurers may see you as higher risk.
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What do I need to get a quote?
Before you start shopping for your policy there is some information that's useful to have at hand to speed up the process. These details are needed to accurately answer our question set and help you find accurate prices for your contents insurance policy. The essential details you will need include:
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Tenant information
If your property will be occupied when the policy starts, give basic tenant details. Include the number of tenants, their employment status and the type of tenancy agreement. Confirm any checks you’ve carried out. These factors help insurers assess risk.
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Property security
Insurers need to know how secure your property is. Provide details about door and window locks, alarms and whether the home will be unoccupied for more than 45 days. Good security can reduce premiums.
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Value of your contents (for contents or combined cover)
Add up the full replacement value of everything you provide – furniture, appliances, and soft furnishings. Accurate valuations prevent underinsurance. Remember that most policies have a single-item limit of around £1,000.
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Property details (for buildings or combined cover)
Have basic information to hand: the year the property was built, the building materials, any ongoing building works, and whether the property is listed. These details help insurers assess structural risk.
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Your personal details and history
Provide your name and contact details. Insurers will also ask whether you’ve had any criminal convictions, declared bankruptcy, or had insurance cancelled or restricted in the past.
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Cover choices
Decide what type of policy you want: contents-only, buildings-only, or combined buildings and contents. Choose any optional extras, such as accidental damage, landlord liability or rent guarantee cover. All of these choices can affect the price.
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Landlord contents insurance guides and tips
Keep up to date and find out all you need to know with our latest guides.
Do I still need landlord contents insurance for an unfurnished property?
Yes, you can still benefit from landlord's contents insurance policy even if your property is unfurnished. Landlords contents cover can offer protection for other items you may have in the property, including:
Washing machines
Dishwashers
Curtains
Carpets.
Do I need contents insurance for my tenants belongings?
No. Your landlord contents insurance only covers items that belong to you. You are not responsible for your tenants’ possessions.
Tenants should arrange their own renters’ or tenants’ insurance to protect their belongings against theft, fire, or accidental damage.
To avoid misunderstandings, clearly state this responsibility in the tenancy agreement. This helps prevent disputes if a tenant’s items are damaged and they try to claim through your policy.
Does landlord contents insurance include property owners' liability cover?
Yes. Most landlord contents policies include property owners’ liability cover. This helps pay legal costs and compensation if a tenant or visitor is injured, or if their property is damaged, and they make a claim against you.
Typical scenarios include:
a tenant tripping on loose flooring or a damaged step
injury caused by a faulty appliance you provided
damage to a visitor’s belongings caused by something in the property
Liability limits and exclusions vary by policy, so always check your policy schedule to understand the exact cover and any caps or conditions.
Does landlord contents insurance cover servicing or maintenance costs for appliances?
No. Landlord contents insurance does not cover routine servicing or maintenance of appliances and electronics. It also won’t pay for damage caused by normal wear and tear.
Contents insurance is designed to cover sudden, unexpected events.
For example:
Insurable event: a washing machine is damaged by a burst pipe.
Non-insurable event: a fridge stops working because it hasn’t been defrosted or maintained properly.
Landlords should budget separately for regular upkeep and replacement of appliances. If ongoing servicing is a concern, consider specialist appliance or extended warranty cover to protect against breakdowns not included in a standard contents policy.
Will I be covered if my tenants destroy my property on purpose?
Damage caused deliberately by tenants is called malicious damage. This is different from accidental damage, which happens unintentionally, such as a tenant spilling water on a carpet.
Malicious damage is not always included in standard landlord contents insurance. Some providers offer it as an optional add-on, while others may not cover it at all.
Always check the policy details before buying. Look for any conditions, such as requirements for tenant referencing, security measures, or limits on the types of cover included. This ensures you know exactly what protection you have if a tenant intentionally damages your property.
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Reviewed on 17 Dec 2025 by
Data based on the minimum price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket to Tunisia in 2026. Prices vary based on your personal details & circumstances.