Buildings, contents and landlord insurance — arranged right.
General insurance protects the physical assets behind your financial life. Buildings insurance is a mortgage lender requirement from exchange of contracts. Landlord insurance covers tenant damage, loss of rent and liability. Contents insurance protects everything inside. We search the whole market to find the right cover at the right price — independent of your lender.
Four types of general insurance — each with different requirements
The right general insurance depends on whether you own or rent, whether you live in the property or let it, and what your mortgage lender requires.
Buildings insurance covers the structure of your property — walls, roof, floors, fixed fittings, and permanent outbuildings. Mortgage lenders require buildings insurance as a condition of lending. Critically, cover must be in place from exchange of contracts, not completion. Buildings insurance must be based on the rebuild cost, not the market value. In London and Essex, these can differ significantly. We use the BCIS rebuild cost calculator to establish the correct sum insured.
Contents insurance covers your personal possessions inside the property — furniture, appliances, clothing, electronics, jewellery, and other valuables. Contents sum insured is often underestimated. We work through the correct sum insured with you, including high-value items that may require specific listing, and add accidental damage cover where appropriate.
Landlord insurance goes significantly further than standard buildings insurance. It includes cover for malicious damage by tenants, loss of rental income if the property becomes uninhabitable, and property owner’s liability if a tenant or visitor is injured. Without landlord insurance, the landlord’s standard buildings insurer may decline a claim arising from a tenanted property.
Rent guarantee insurance protects your rental income if a tenant stops paying rent. It typically covers rent arrears from the date the tenant defaulted, legal costs to pursue the tenant or obtain possession, and eviction costs. For landlords who rely on rental income to cover their buy to let mortgage, rent guarantee cover provides essential financial protection against the risk of problem tenants.
Why not just use your mortgage lender’s insurance?
Mortgage lenders often recommend or refer you to their own insurance products at the point of purchase. They are legally permitted to do this — but they cannot require you to use their insurer as a condition of the mortgage.
Insurance arranged through your lender is rarely the cheapest option, and it is not necessarily the most comprehensive. We search the whole market independently and find you the right policy at the right price — without any conflict of interest.
- Whole of market search — not tied to any insurer or panel
- Correct rebuild cost calculation using the BCIS calculator
- Lender noted as interested party — policy meets mortgage conditions
- Landlord policies that genuinely cover tenanted properties
- Combined landlord policies covering buildings, contents, and liability in one
- Rent guarantee available alongside standard landlord cover
General insurance — key reminders
Things clients often discover too late — we make sure you know upfront.
General insurance questions answered honestly
From exchange of contracts — not completion. On exchange, you become legally committed to the purchase and carry the risk of damage to the property. If the property were destroyed by fire between exchange and completion, you would still be legally obliged to complete the purchase. Buildings insurance must be in place from the date of exchange to cover this risk.
You can use any insurer — your mortgage lender cannot require you to use their recommended insurer as a condition of the mortgage. They can refer you to their own products, but you have the right to arrange cover independently. We search the whole market and find you the right cover at the right price, then ensure your lender is noted as an interested party on the policy.
Standard buildings insurance is designed for owner-occupied properties and will typically not cover damage caused by tenants, loss of rent, or landlord liability. If you let a property under standard buildings insurance without informing your insurer, they may decline any claim. Landlord insurance is specifically designed for tenanted properties and covers the additional risks involved.
Buildings insurance covers the structure of the property — everything that would remain if you picked the house up and turned it upside down. Contents insurance covers everything that would fall out. Fittings such as fitted kitchens and bathrooms are typically covered by buildings insurance; furniture, clothing, and portable electronics are contents.
Rent guarantee insurance covers rental arrears from the date a tenant defaults, legal costs to pursue a tenant or obtain possession of the property, and eviction costs. Some policies also include rent cover for a period after possession is obtained while a new tenant is found. It is designed specifically for the risk of problem tenants who stop paying rent or refuse to vacate the property.
Get the right cover at the right price
Free whole of market search — independent of your lender or any insurer. We find the right policy and make sure it genuinely meets your needs.
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Get your free general insurance quote
Free whole of market search — independent of your lender. We find the right buildings, contents, or landlord cover for your property.
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