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When it comes to renting out property, landlords need to ensure they have the right insurance in place. But with landlord insurance, building insurance, and contents insurance to consider, it can get confusing. So do landlords need contents insurance, and what exactly does it cover? Read on for a guide to the types of cover available and how landlord insurance can protect rental income.
Whether you’re renting out an unfurnished or part-furnished property, as a landlord you need insurance to cover unexpected costs. From accidental damage to replacing white goods, landlord contents insurance can cover the expense so you don’t lose rental income. With policy options available from specialist insurers like Brisco Business UK, landlords can get quotes for tailored cover.
What is landlord contents insurance?
Here’s a quick summary:
- Protects landlords’ contents in rental properties
- Can cover damage by tenants plus wear and tear
- Optional extra in addition to building insurance
- Covers costs to repair and replace contents
Content insurance is important for landlords renting out furnished properties. It covers the cost of repairing or replacing items that a tenant damages or that need replacing through general wear and tear. This gives landlords peace of mind that their contents are protected between tenancies.
Why do landlords need content cover?
There are a few key reasons landlords should consider contents insurance:
Protect furnishings between lets
Furniture can easily get damaged between tenant changeovers. Contents cover takes care of repair and replacement costs so landlords don’t have to fork out repeatedly to furnish properties.
Cover accidental tenant damage
Tenants don’t always treat a rented property as their own. From red wine on the carpet to burnt curtains, contents insurance covers these unwanted surprises.
Replace white goods
Contents cover can pay for repairing or replacing landlord appliances like washing machines and fridges if they break down beyond repair.
Avoid lost rental income
If disaster strikes, contents insurance means landlords can quickly get a property habitable again so new tenants can move in without losing too much rent.
What does landlord contents insurance cover?
Landlord contents policies cover different things depending on the insurer and level of cover taken out. But some standard items covered include:
- Furniture
- Carpets and flooring
- Curtains and blinds
- White goods like ovens and fridges
- Landlord’s fixtures and fittings
- Accidental damage by tenants
Content insurance can also cover the cost of liability claims. For example, if a tenant injures themselves and tries to claim compensation. Optional extras like legal expenses insurance provide access to legal advice, and rent guarantee insurance covers the loss of rent if tenants default on payments.
What questions should I ask providers?
When getting landlord content quotes, some key questions to ask are:
What level of cover is needed?
Insurers offer different levels of cover from basic contents insurance up to full accidental damage cover. Consider what’s right for each property.
Does it cover furnished and part-furnished lets?
Check the insurer’s deals with furnished, part-furnished, and unfurnished rental properties. Also, see what specific items are covered, e.g. carpets and curtains.
Am I covered between lets?
It’s important landlords can claim for any damage discovered between tenants renting the property. Periodic empty property cover offered by some insurers provides protection when the property is not let.
Does cover include liability and legal expenses?
Additional cover like employers and public liability insurance protects landlords if tenants injure themselves. Legal expenses cover provide access to legal advice and cover costs defending claims.
Why choose Brisco Business for landlord contents insurance?
Brisco Business offers specialist landlord contents insurance policies. Here’s why they could be the right content cover provider:
Tailored products
They provide quotes based on the level of landlord coverage needed for the property. Whether it’s basic contents insurance or full cover, prices are tailored to individual landlord’s needs.
ranges of cover
Brisco Business landlord policies and contents insurance cover furnished and unfurnished properties, plus student lets and houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs).
Protection when empty
Cover includes damage to landlords’ contents that occurs when the property is empty between tenancies. Accidental and malicious damage is covered along with fire, flood, and theft.
Additional options
As a leading insurer for small businesses and landlords, Brisco Business offers optional extras like tax investigation cover and access to 24/7 legal advice helplines.
So in summary, landlords can easily get quotes for tailored landlord content insurance cover from specialist providers like Brisco Business UK.
Key things for landlords to consider
If you’re renting out property, here are some important things to remember regarding contents insurance:
- Tenant contents – Tenants need to arrange their own content cover
- Inventory – Create a property inventory list with details of all contents to help make claims
- Check cover – Ask providers what exactly contents insurance does and does not cover
- Shop around – Get quotes from different insurers offering landlord policies
- Avoid gaps – Make sure there’s no gap between tenants where contents won’t be covered
- Review regularly – Check cover levels still meet needs as the landlord business grows
Conclusion
Content insurance gives landlords peace of mind that tenants, wear and tear, and accidents won’t leave them out of pocket for replacing or repairing furnishings. With rent guarantee insurance also covering loss of earnings if tenants default, combined landlord policies provide vital coverage.
Comprehensive landlord contents insurance is a worthwhile investment for any landlord renting out a furnished property. Just make sure the cover meets all needs in terms of items protected and scenarios covered to avoid any nasty surprises. Specialist insurers like Brisco Business provide tailored contents insurance so landlords can find a policy that fits.
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