Property insurance
Cover options for landlords, property investors and commercial property owners, including buildings, loss of rent and property owners' liability.
Insurance for landlords, property owners and investors
Property insurance for businesses covers buildings you own or let, the rent they earn and your liability as the owner. Policies usually combine buildings cover, loss of rent and property owners' liability, with extra covers depending on the property, who occupies it and whether it's let, empty or having work done.
PIB Insurance Brokers arranges cover for private and portfolio landlords, commercial landlords, property investors and freeholders of blocks of flats. A broker can be particularly helpful when your property is more complex, for example tenant types some insurers restrict, a mix of homes and commercial units, a listed or non-standard building, a property that's empty, or several properties you'd like on one policy.
Choose your type of property below to see what's usually covered, what isn't and what affects the cost.
Find cover for your type of property
Common covers for property owners
Which covers you need depends on your property and how it's let or used. Cover, limits and exclusions vary by policy, and each property type page above sets out what's usually covered and what isn't.
Buildings
The structure and fixed fittings against events such as fire, flood, storm, escape of water and subsidence, based on the cost of rebuilding rather than the market value.
Loss of rent
Rent you lose while tenants can't use the property after an insured event such as a fire or flood, for a period you choose.
Property owners' liability
Claims from tenants, visitors or members of the public who are hurt, or whose property is damaged, because of the building.
Landlord's contents
Items you provide in a furnished let or in the common parts of a building, such as furniture, carpets and white goods.
Rent guarantee
Rent a tenant doesn't pay, up to a stated limit and period. It usually needs tenants to have passed referencing before the tenancy starts.
Legal expenses
Legal costs for some disputes, such as with tenants, neighbours or contractors, including some eviction costs.
Empty properties
Cover for properties between tenants, awaiting sale or being refurbished, usually on different terms and with conditions such as regular inspections.
Engineering inspection
Thorough examinations of lifts, boilers and pressure systems that the law requires on a set schedule. Note: This is an inspection service, not insurance, and isn't regulated by the FCA.
Why work with PIB Insurance Brokers
We explore your options
We can approach insurers that cover let and investment property and set out the differences in cover, not just price.
We look at how the property is used
Tenant types, empty periods, commercial units below flats and building work may each change what you need to tell your insurer.
We look for common gaps
An out-of-date rebuild valuation, a loss of rent period too short to repair and re-let, or restricted cover on a property that's become empty.
Here when things change
Our team is on hand throughout the policy year for advice, whether your circumstances change or you're not sure what to do next.
What our clients say
Reviews from PIB Insurance Brokers clients across the sectors we work with, collected by Reviews.io.
Not sure what cover your property needs?
Get a quoteFrequently asked questions
What is property insurance?
For businesses, property insurance covers buildings you own, let or occupy against events such as fire, flood, storm and escape of water. It usually also covers the rent or income you lose while the building is repaired, and your liability as the owner. Landlords, property investors and commercial property owners usually need a policy written for how the property is used, such as landlord insurance, commercial landlord insurance or property owners insurance, because home insurance usually doesn't cover a property let to tenants.
What insurance do I need as a landlord or property owner?
It depends on the property and how it's used. Landlords letting homes usually need landlord insurance, and landlords with several properties may put them on one portfolio policy. Landlords letting shops, offices or industrial units usually need commercial landlord insurance. Owners of blocks of flats and mixed-use buildings usually need property owners insurance, and businesses that own the building they trade from usually need commercial property insurance. These policies usually combine buildings cover, loss of rent and property owners' liability.
Can I insure different types of property on one policy?
Often, yes. Insurers offer portfolio policies that put several properties on one policy with one renewal date, and some accept a mix of houses, flats, blocks and commercial units. Whether a mix fits on one policy depends on the insurer, the property types and the tenants. Properties that are empty, listed or let to tenant types some insurers restrict may need to be insured separately.
What does a property insurance broker do?
A broker such as PIB Insurance Brokers acts for you rather than for an insurer. We ask about your properties, tenants and plans, approach insurers that cover that type of property, and explain the differences in cover, exclusions and conditions before you buy. If you need to claim, we help you put the claim to the insurer and follow it through. Our Terms of Business explain how we're paid.