5 reasons why you need landlord cover

Do I need landlord insurance? That’s a great question to ask! Currently, there are no legal requirements to have landlord insurance or landlord boiler cover. However, you may find it beneficial to take out a policy.

What is landlord insurance?

The term landlord insurance covers a broad range of policy types. It’s worth noting that while some will cover home emergencies, others may be designed to provide financial cover, if, for example, a tenant doesn’t pay their rent.

In this article, we’re talking about landlord home emergency cover, which falls under the umbrella of landlord insurance, and usually covers the cost of call out charges, labour, parts or materials for repairs and sometimes even replacements.

This type of landlord insurance tends to include landlord boiler cover and heating cover, as well as cover for home electrics, pipes and drains.

To simplify it, let’s say you have two landlords, Landlord A who doesn’t have landlord cover and Landlord B who does.

A tenant phones up in the middle of the night because a pipe has burst. Landlord A would find themselves having to pull on some clothes, head to the property and either make a temporary repair themself or ring round to find an emergency plumber to help. (Note this would come with a rather expensive call out charge before they’ve even quoted for repairs.)

Landlord B would simply be able to call their provider’s 24/7 helpline and report the problem. The landlord cover provider would then arrange for one of their trusted plumbers to attend the property and make the necessary repairs. The call out charge, cost of repair work and parts would all be covered as part of the policy.

We can’t speak for everyone but we know which landlord we’d rather be!

Why is landlord insurance beneficial?

If you are wondering whether you actually need landlord insurance and how it will benefit you, check out these 5 key benefits…

1. Saving money

One of the ways you can benefit from landlord insurance is by saving on the cost of repair work. For a small monthly fee, you will be covered for a wide range of costs, including call out charges, materials and parts and repair work. Rather than having to find the money and let your bank balance take a hit, you can have the peace of mind knowing you are fully covered should a disaster strike!

2. Gain access to trusted engineers

With so many engineers and tradespeople offering their services locally, it can be difficult knowing who to go with. Of course, you can research different companies, ask for recommendations and compare quotes but this can be very time-consuming. And let’s face it, in the midst of a home emergency, you won’t have time to do this properly. A benefit of having landlord cover is that you won’t have to spend time finding a trusted engineer. Instead, you’ll simply ring up your provider, report the issue, and they’ll send out one of the trusted engineers on their approved list. You can have the peace of mind that you’ll always have quick access to the right person for the job.

3. Meet your legal obligations

As a landlord, you are required by law to maintain all of the gas appliances and supplies i.e. water, electricity and drainage in your rented properties.

Another of your legal obligations as a landlord is to keep your rented property in a safe and habitable condition for your tenants. You are required by law to make any repairs to the property within a reasonable period, once you’ve been made aware of them.

Having landlord home emergency cover in place will help you meet your legal obligations with ease. As soon as a problem has been reported to you, you’ll be able to make a claim and act fast to ensure the problem is fixed for your tenants.

Some providers, like Hometree, will also include a free annual boiler service and Landlord Gas Safety report – something you are legally required to have as a landlord.

Important Information Some providers offer insured plans to look after your Boiler and Heating and other home services like plumbing, drains and electrics, whereas other providers offer non-insured plans. An insured plan will be underwritten by an insurer and also regulated by the [Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)](https://www.fca.org.uk/). Non-insured plans are not backed by an insurer and are not regulated by the FCA. Often non-insured or maintenance plans include an annual service of the equipment covered, whereas these may or may not be included in insured plans.

4. Keep your tenants happy

The faster you react to a home emergency and make the necessary repair work, the happier your tenants will be. Happy tenants are much more likely to pay their rent. Happy tenants are much more likely to stay in your property for longer. Happy tenants will cause fewer problems. All good reasons to keep your tenants happy!

At Hometree, we’re happy to deal with you, or if easier, we can deal with your tenants. Whatever works for you, works for us. 90% of emergency call outs are completed within 24 hours. Pretty speedy, don’t you think? Your tenants are sure to be happy with that!

5. Protect your investment

As a landlord, you will have invested a significant amount in your rented property. When disaster strikes, like a burst pipe, it could potentially cause significant damage to your investment. By taking out home cover, you at least have the peace of mind that if the worst does happen, your investment will be adequately protected. The damage will be minimised with quick repairs and your bank balance won’t take a hit.

How to find the best landlord insurance

Now you know the 5 reasons why you need landlord insurance, you’re probably wondering how you go about choosing the best policy?

To start with,, we’d suggest researching a few different providers online and using comparison websites to compare both their services and quotes. Decide whether you are after a specific policy, like landlord boiler cover or landlord emergency cover for flats, or whether you want a more comprehensive policy that covers all home emergencies.

Remember, although the cost of landlord cover is important, it’s not the only factor to consider. You also need to look at what each policy offers. Does it include landlord boiler cover and heating protection? How about cover for plumbing and drains? Are home electrics included? Get all the facts before you make your decision.

Next, find out if the provider offers any additional benefits with their landlord insurance. Some may offer something like boiler cover no excess fees, so if the boiler breaks down in your rented property, you won’t have to pay an excess charge before your policy kicks in. Other companies may offer a free annual inspection and Landlord Gas Safety Report with their landlord boiler cover. This will save you significant money each year and help you meet your legal obligations as a landlord.

Last but not least, always remember to vet a landlord cover provider (read independent reviews and testimonials) and read the small print.

Landlord home care from Hometree

For home emergency maintenance landlords can count on, look no further than Hometree. We have landlord care plans for boilers, wider central heating and your home. For more information, visit our landlord care plan page or call our friendly Hometree customer care team on 0330 912 4843 for a quote.