Quotes from 14^ UK insurers
All our insurance providers are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Compare landlord insurance quotes from 13 trusted UK providers
By comparing landlord insurance policies from top providers you can quickly find our best deal and save money. Our providers include:
Accurate as of Dec 2025
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 covers items that belong to you – not the tenant – and are kept inside the rental property. It applies to loose contents, not fixed parts of the building.
-
Covered
✔ Furniture
Covers any furniture you provide that remains your property – sofas, beds, tables, chairs, wardrobes. If these are damaged or stolen, the policy can pay for repairs or replacements.
✔ White goods and appliances
Appliances such as washing machines, fridges, freezers, dishwashers, microwaves, and small electrical items are usually covered. However, fixtures and fittings are not covered. This includes anything fixed in place, such as built-in kitchen units, integrated appliances, sinks, or fitted wardrobes – these fall under buildings insurance, not contents.
✔ Outbuilding contents
Some insurers extend cover to outbuildings like sheds or garages. When they do, they typically cover items such as gardening tools, lawnmowers, or BBQ equipment that you store there. This cover varies between providers.
-
Not covered
✖️ What isn't covered by landlord contents insurance?
Some items and situations fall outside a standard landlord contents policy. These may require extra cover or may be excluded entirely.
Insurers have strict rules for unoccupied homes. Many won’t cover a property left empty for long periods, and some require additional “unoccupied property” cover. Claims may be refused if you don’t meet these conditions.
✖️ High-value items
Most policies have a single-item limit. Expensive items above this limit – such as premium electronics or designer furniture – may not be fully covered. You may need specialist or add-on cover for higher-value belongings.
✖️ Wear and tear
Policies don’t cover gradual deterioration. Damage from age, fading, rust, or general use isn’t included.
✖️ Illegal activity
Insurers won’t pay out for loss or damage if the property is used for illegal purposes, even if the claim isn’t directly related to that activity.
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
How much does landlord contents insurance cost?
The premiums you’ll pay for landlord contents insurance will depend on a number of factors:
-
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.
-
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.
-
Your location
Properties in areas with higher crime or flood risk often cost more to insure because claims are more likely.
-
Your policy choices
Add-ons like accidental damage, new-for-old cover, or landlord liability cover increase protection but also raise the price.
-
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.
-
Your claims history
Frequent or recent claims can push premiums up, as insurers may see you as higher risk.
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:
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
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.
Super save with MoneySuperMarket
You work hard to earn your money, and we don’t think you should waste a penny of it paying over the odds on your household bills. That’s why at MoneySuperMarket, we’re on a mission to save Britain money.
Whip your credit score into shape with Credit Score
Super save over and over again with Energy Monitor
There are always more ways to save with MoneySuperMarket
So how do we make our money? In a nutshell, when you use us to buy something, we get a reward from the company you’re buying from.
You might be wondering if we work with all the companies in the market, or if our commercial relationships with our partners might make us feature one company above another. We’ve got nothing to hide, and we want to give you clear answers when it comes to questions like these, so we’ve pulled together everything you need to know on this page.
Reviewed on 7 Jul 2026 by
accurate as of April 2026
