Overseas and Non Resident Landlord Insurance Quotes
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Guide to Landlord Insurance For Non-UK Residents
There are several reasons why, as a non-residential landlord, you might have to oversee your rental property in the UK while living abroad. Whether you’re an expat landlord or temporarily residing abroad, it’s crucial to safeguard your investment and tenants with overseas landlords or non-resident landlord insurance. This will enable you to continue living out of the country while earning rental income from the UK property
Who qualifies as a non-resident landlord?
A non-resident landlord is someone who owns property in the UK and rents it out but lives overseas for more than six months in a tax year.
If HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) determines that a landlord’s primary place of residence is in another country, even if they still have UK tax residency, they are considered a non-resident landlord.
This category includes:
- People who live overseas as part of the armed services or hold other roles in the Crown, like diplomats and ambassadors.
- Companies and trustees whose main place of business or registered office is located outside the UK.
What are some of the challenges non-resident landlords often encounter?
Renting property to tenants can be a profitable source of income, but it also carries certain risks, especially when you are out of the country.
Despite careful occupant selection, accidents and issues can arise, and landlords should be aware of the following such challenges:
- Damage from Events: Fire, floods, severe weather, and structural issues are potential risks that landlords, like all property owners, must consider. These events are typically covered by property insurance.
- Property Damage: In some cases, occupants may unintentionally damage the property, and the security deposit might not cover the repair costs. Serious damage may necessitate an insurance claim.
- Public Liability: Landlords can be held responsible for injuries or damages suffered by tenants if they can prove that the rental property was the cause due to safety or maintenance issues. This can lead to costly legal claims.
- Maintenance and Upkeep Costs: Landlords are responsible for ongoing property maintenance and repairs, even when tenants are in occupancy.
What are the common components of non-residential Landlord insurance coverage?
n the UK, landlord insurance policies can vary depending on the provider, but they generally offer protection against damage to your property caused by incidents such as fires, floods, storms, falling trees, theft, and vandalism. Coverage details may differ, so it’s important to review policy terms carefully to ensure it meets your specific needs.
Following are some of the main types which you can get:
Landlord Contents Cover
This is the most basic cover available and is also the legal minimum to drive a taxi legally within the UK. It only pays out to claims by third parties if the cause of an accident.
Landlord Liability
The policy also typically includes coverage for legal expenses and compensation claims if someone—such as an electrician, tenant, or their guests—suffers an injury as a result of afault in the property. For example, if one of your tenanst trips over a broken floorboard and sustains an injury.
Unoccupied Property Insurance cover
This property is for times when your property is empty or not occupied by tenants. Having unoccupied property insurance will make sure that you’ve covered for all the associated risks.
Rent Guarantee Insurance
This compensates you for the lost rental income if your tenant stops paying due to an insurable event, like a fire or flood. It’s sometimes called tenant default insurance, but it might have conditions, like requiring tenant credit checks and having compensation limits.
Loss of Rent Insurance
This coverage helps when your tenant has to move out due to property issues, like damage from a fire. So, If you find yourself unable to collect rent from a tenant due to such a situation, this loss of rent insurance coverage would ensure that you receive compensation until you can resolve the problem with the tenant or go through the eviction process if necessary.
What is covered?
For the most part, short-term vacant property insurance for 3 months or longer covers the same items as a standard home policy but typically at a higher rate due to the increased risk. If you’re insuring an empty house, most policies generally include the following:
Cover typically includes
Cover typically excludes
Bottom Line
If you are a Landlord living outside the UK, the ideal landlord insurance policy is the one that fits your unique requirements. It’s advisable to create a list of essential features you need before you begin comparing policies or checking out for a flexible cover. This approach ensures that you can confidently select an insurance policy that provides comprehensive protection tailored to your needs.
How much does non-resident Landlord insurance typically cost?
It’s challenging to provide an exact cost for landlord insurance since policies vary. While it might be tempting to opt for the cheapest cover based solely on price, it may not be the best long-term decision. The key factors that go towards arriving at expat landlord insurance quote include:
- The Value of Property or properties if you need multi landlord insurance also called portfolio insurance
- The level of cover that you require and the cost of any additional extras that you choose to add, example loss of rent cover.
- The post code of the property, if in a high theft area then expect to pay more
- Type of tenants, example student landlord insurance and HMO landlord insurance will come with increased risk if for example let out to a professional.
Landlord Frequently Asked Questions
- Updated: 19 June 2025
- Reviewed by Eamonn Turley Insurance Expert