Landlord Liability Insurance

Find out more about landlord liability insurance, what it covers, and when you might benefit from it.

Landlord liability insurance can help protect you against damage or injury compensation claims from tenants or visitors while at your rental property. This could be anything from a loose carpet causing someone to trip to a ceiling tile falling and damaging tenants’ belongings.

Landlord liability insurance can help cover associated compensation costs, including legal fees. Without it, you could be liable for damage to belongings and any legal costs related to the claim. Many policies insure you up to a specific limit for each claim, so it’s important to check the wording of your policy carefully.

Landlord liability insurance policies can typically cover you for damage or legal costs if someone makes a compensation claim against you. This can include claims for bodily injury or damage to the property and tenants’ possessions.

Importantly, the accident or injury should have occurred at your rental property for it to be considered an insured event. Some policies also differ depending on what’s considered an insured event, which is why it’s important to find cover that insures you against many eventualities.

Landlord liability insurance is included as standard with our landlord insurance policy, rather than as separate cover. This means you might find our landlord insurance provides a suitable level of cover for compensation claims.

Policy limits and exclusions may apply, please see our Second Home Insurance policy wordings for full terms and conditions.

Legal costs associated with a negligence claim can be costly. Compensation claims can include legal costs, medical fees, and lost income, so they can become expensive very quickly.

Without insurance, you could be liable to cover these fees. So, landlord liability insurance can help to provide added peace of mind against potential damage or injury claims at your buy-to-let.

As a landlord, you’re legally obliged to provide a safe home for your tenants. You’re also responsible for keeping the property in good repair. This means taking all reasonable care to limit any loss, damage, or injury while at your property. Not only does this help ensure your insurance policy is valid, but it also helps to keep your tenants and other people who visit your property safe.

The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 came into force in 2019, requiring landlords to make sure their rental property is ‘fit for human habitation’. This act means if you fail to keep your property free from hazards, tenants may have the right to take court action against you.

The Defective Premises Act 1972 sets additional legal obligations for landlords. This act outlines your duty to prevent tenants, those living at the property, and visitors, from sustaining injury or damage to their belongings due failure to maintain or repair your property.

Failing to repair your property or keep it in a good condition can easily risk the safety of your tenants and any visitors. It can also void your landlord insurance if someone makes a compensation claim against you, so you would still be liable to cover costs.

While not all injuries sustained at your property are considered the landlord’s fault, it’s important to understand that you can be held legally responsible for injuries and damages caused by negligence. Even if you organised repairs but failed to do so correctly, this could be considered negligence.

Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, you have specific responsibilities for organising and maintaining repairs at your rental property. These include repairs for the following:

• Electrical wiring
• Gas pipes and boilers
• Heating and hot water
• Chimneys and ventilation
• Sinks, baths, toilets, pipes, and drains
• Property structure and exterior, including walls, stairs, roof, external doors, and windows

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 require landlords to ensure gas appliances, fittings, and flues provided for tenants are safe. Maintenance and repair should be undertaken by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Landlords also need to arrange for annual gas safety checks by a Gas Safe registered engineer. A record of the safety check must be kept for two years, and a copy issued to each existing tenant within 28 days of the check being completed. Any new tenants must be issued a copy before they move in.

Not all injuries and damage that occur at your property are the landlord’s liability. However, you can be considered at-fault for the following events:

• Damaged floorboards or carpets that cause a trip hazard
• Failing to install handrails on a staircase
• Loose plaster that could fall on tenants or visitors, particularly on ceilings
• Poorly maintained shower or hot water system
• Leaking pipes
• Poorly maintained structure, including the roof, walls, windows, and doors

Liability insurance is included as part of our landlord insurance policy as standard. Costs can differ depending on your individual circumstances. Many people opt for monthly payments to spread the cost over a year.

Providers often consider the following factors when giving you a quote:

• Property type and value
• Property location
• Type of tenant
• Coverage level, including individual claim limits
• Claims history

Just Landlords offers landlord liability insurance to help protect against potential compensation claims. Our landlord insurance is rated 5 stars by Defaqto, the financial product rating experts. We also have over 1,000 reviews and a rating of “Excellent” on Trustpilot*.

To get a quote, fill out our online form. You can also speak to a member of our team on 0808 168 9220.