Landlord insurance is property insurance designed for homes you rent out. It can cover the building, furnishings you provide and your liability as the owner. Some policies also cover loss of rent when an insured event makes the property unfit to live in. A standard owner-occupier policy may not suit a rented property, so tell your insurer before you let it.
This guide is for owners letting for the first time, considering renting instead of selling, or reviewing an existing rental. It explains the main policy features, the limits to compare and the importance of describing the tenancy accurately.
Key takeaways
- Landlord insurance is not a general legal requirement, but a lender will usually require buildings cover on a mortgaged property.
- Tell your insurer if an owner-occupied home becomes a rental.
- Accidental damage, tenant damage, emergency assistance and loss of rent differ between policies. Check the wording, limits and exclusions.
- Cover can be restricted after a property has been empty for a specified period.
- Your tenants’ belongings are not covered by your landlord contents policy; they may want their own contents insurance.
Evaluating coverage scope and policy features
Landlord policies share a basic structure, but the benefits, limits and excesses vary.
Buildings cover
Buildings insurance protects the structure, such as walls, roof, floors and permanent fixtures, against events named in the policy. Set the sum insured using the full cost of reinstating the property, rather than its market price. The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland house rebuild calculator can give an indicative starting point for a standard estate-type house.
For an apartment in a managed block, check the owners’ management company’s buildings policy before arranging your own.
Landlord contents cover
This covers items you own and provide for tenants, such as furniture and appliances, subject to the policy’s definitions and limits. If the property is unfurnished, you may need a lower contents sum, but still check what is classed as a building fixture and what counts as contents. Tenants’ belongings need their own cover.
Accidental damage
Accidental damage is sudden, unintentional damage that may fall outside the policy’s standard insured events. The cover differs widely between insurers. In particular, AA Ireland’s landlord insurance page states that its landlord policies do not include accidental damage to buildings or contents. Do not assume an owner-occupier benefit carries over to a rental policy. If this protection is important to you, ask the provider to confirm whether it offers it and what is excluded.
Malicious damage by tenants
Deliberate damage by someone legally in the property can be treated differently from damage by an intruder. Check whether malicious tenant damage is covered at all, whether an additional excess applies, and how the policy distinguishes deliberate damage from wear and tear.
Emergency repairs
Some policies include home emergency assistance or make it available separately. It may arrange an approved contractor for an urgent plumbing, heating or electrical problem, often up to a per-claim limit. If you want this protection, ask whether it applies to a let property, what counts as an emergency, whether the tenant can request help and who pays for the permanent repair. Related buildings benefits, such as trace and access for a hidden leak, may have separate limits.
Loss of rent
Where included, loss-of-rent cover can pay eligible rent lost while insured damage is repaired and the property cannot be occupied. Check the maximum amount and period of cover. It does not generally cover a tenant simply failing to pay rent; rent arrears protection is a different matter. The AA’s landlord page lists loss of rent or alternative accommodation benefits for certain policies, subject to the relevant limits.
Liability and legal costs
Property owner’s liability can respond to covered claims arising from injury or property damage for which you are legally responsible as the owner. Compare each policy’s limit and exclusions.
Legal expenses or tenancy dispute cover may be available through some providers, but do not assume it is included. Check whether any protection applies to the issue you are concerned about, such as recovering possession, and whether it requires tenant referencing, a signed agreement or RTB registration.
How to compare policy limits
Ask for the full wording and schedule. Check:
- Buildings and landlord contents sums insured.
- The standard excess and any higher excess for escape of water or subsidence.
- Limits on loss of rent, liability and any emergency assistance.
- Whether accidental or malicious damage by tenants is covered.
- How long the property can remain unoccupied and what precautions are required.
- Conditions about tenancy type, references, agreements and registration.
The CCPC home insurance guide is a useful independent companion when comparing costs, limits and exclusions.
Buying more than one policy
If you prefer one point of contact, AA Ireland offers landlord insurance alongside other home, car, travel and pet insurance and motoring services. Each policy has its own terms.
Why standard home insurance usually is not enough
An owner-occupier policy is written around you living in the property. Letting brings different occupants, possible gaps between tenancies and rental income to protect. Tell the insurer before you rent out a home and ask for cover that accepts its use. Keeping an owner-occupier policy without disclosing a change could cause problems with cover or a claim.
What to tell your insurer
Describe whether the property is let furnished or unfurnished, who lives there, whether tenants are on one agreement or separate agreements, and any periods it may be empty. Notify the insurer of relevant changes during the policy, including a longer vacancy or major building work.
Other requirements
Landlord insurance itself is not generally required by law. Most residential tenancies must, however, be registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) when they begin and annually thereafter; some arrangements, including renting a room in your own home, fall outside registration. Check which rules apply to yours. A mortgage lender will typically require buildings insurance and may need to agree to a change from owner occupation to letting. Review your loan terms before tenants move in.
Frequently asked questions
Is landlord insurance a legal requirement in Ireland?
There is no general law requiring a landlord insurance policy. A mortgage lender will usually require buildings insurance under the loan agreement. Most residential tenancies also have a separate RTB registration requirement.
Can I use my home insurance if I rent out my house?
Do not assume an owner-occupier policy will cover a let property. Contact the insurer before your tenants move in, explain how it will be let and arrange suitable cover.
Does landlord insurance cover damage caused by tenants?
It depends on the type of damage and the policy. Accidental damage and malicious damage are treated differently, and normal wear and tear is generally excluded. AA Ireland’s current landlord page says accidental damage to buildings and contents is not included in its landlord policies. Check the exact policy you are considering.
Does landlord insurance cover loss of rent?
Some policies cover lost rent if an insured event makes the property unfit to live in, subject to a limit and conditions. That is different from unpaid rent or arrears.
Are my tenants’ belongings covered?
No. Landlord contents cover is for eligible items you own and provide. Tenants should consider their own contents insurance for personal belongings.
What if my rental property is empty between tenants?
Unoccupancy limits and precautions vary. Ask the insurer how long the home can be empty before cover changes and whether you must turn off water, maintain heating or arrange inspections. Tell the insurer about an extended vacancy.
Looking for landlord insurance?
Explore AA Landlord Insurance and get a quote that reflects how your property is let.
