Landlord insurance quotes tend to arrive looking reassuringly similar. Buildings. Rent. Liability. A neat list, a price underneath, and a sense that the job is done. That’s usually where the real differences start hiding.
Comparing landlord insurance works best when you understand how each quote has been shaped, not just how much it costs.
Making sure the basics line up
Before any comparison means anything, the information going into each quote has to match. Small differences in answers produce very different prices.
Property type, rebuild cost, number of tenants, length of tenancy. These details drive how insurers view the risk.
- Use the same rebuild cost for every quote
- Declare the correct tenancy type
- Be consistent about occupancy and use
A cheaper quote often reflects a quieter version of the property than the one that actually exists.
Tenancy type matters more than many expect
Single lets, families, students, professional sharers. Insurers rate these differently.
A policy priced for a single family let may not respond as expected if the property is later used as a shared house. Some insurers restrict cover for HMOs entirely.
Comparing quotes without aligning tenancy type makes the exercise unreliable.
Loss of rent, definitions and limits
Loss of rent is one of the most misunderstood sections of landlord insurance.
Policies often limit this to rent lost following insured damage that makes the property uninhabitable. Not missed payments. Not disputes. Not void periods.
- Check the maximum payout period
- Confirm what events trigger a claim
- Look for waiting periods or conditions
Two policies can both include loss of rent and still behave very differently.
Property owners’ liability
Landlord liability is usually included, but the limits vary. This covers claims from tenants or visitors who are injured due to issues with the property.
Higher limits cost more, but they can also affect how comfortable you feel about risk exposure.
It’s one of the few sections where higher limits often make practical sense.
Contents and furnishings
Landlord contents insurance covers items provided by the landlord, not tenants’ belongings. White goods, furniture, floor coverings.
Quotes differ in how they treat these items, particularly in furnished or part-furnished properties.
Underestimating this section can lead to awkward gaps after a claim.
Accidental and malicious damage by tenants
Standard landlord insurance often excludes accidental damage caused by tenants unless it’s specifically added.
Malicious damage may also sit behind conditions, sometimes linked to tenancy checks or inventory requirements.
- Check whether tenant damage is included or optional
- Confirm any requirements around referencing or inventories
- Look at excesses for tenant-related claims
This is an area where headline prices can be misleading.
Unoccupied periods and changeovers
Properties between tenants can fall into unoccupied definitions quickly. Some policies impose restrictions after relatively short periods.
Comparing how insurers treat these gaps matters, particularly for landlords managing multiple properties or student lets.
Claims history and disclosure
Previous claims affect pricing and acceptance. Omitting them may produce a cheaper quote, but that advantage tends to unravel later.
Insurers share claims data. Consistency matters.
Excesses and how they apply
Landlord policies often include higher excesses than standard home insurance, particularly for escape of water or tenant damage.
Two quotes that look close in price can feel very different when a claim arises.
Where comparison sites fall short
Comparison sites are useful for initial pricing, but they often simplify landlord-specific detail.
Direct insurers and brokers may ask more questions upfront, but that effort usually translates into clearer terms.
Comparing landlord insurance quotes works best when price is treated as one factor among many, and when the policy is judged on how it responds to real situations rather than how neatly it fits into a summary box.