What does commercial landlord insurance cover?

  • Bricks and mortar buildings

  • 10 different properties covered on the same policy

  • Property owners’ liability as standard with cover levels up to £10 million

  • 24-hour glass replacement service for broken windows, doors, and partitions

  • Lost or stolen keys with our key replacement service

  • Underground pipe and cables

  • Trace and access to find the source of leaking pipes on the property

If you’d like to know the ins and outs of your cover, you can view our full policy documents for more details.

How is a commercial landlord difference from a residential landlord?

There is one key difference between commercial and residential landlords and that is the type of property they are renting out.

Residential landlords are those who own private residential property (i.e., houses and flats) that are rented out to ordinary people.

Commercial landlords are those who own and let commercial properties (such as shops or garages) that are rented out to business owners for commercial use.

Why do commercial landlords needs insurance?

Commercial landlords need insurance as the type of property you own is going to be used for purposes that a standard residential property would. This means that there are different risks to consider that a residential landlord policy won’t cover you for.

Here are a few of the reasons why you may want to consider commercial landlord insurance.

  • Damage may be caused to your property that will be costly to repair without cover
  • All mortgage providers may request that you have insurance
  • Local authorities (for example: councils) might require business or property owners in their areas to have cover

Is commercial landlord insurance a legal requirement?

No, commercial landlord insurance isn’t a legal requirement.

However, property is a huge investment, so it’s recommended that you protect it.

Additionally, commercial landlord insurance is likely to be a requirement from your mortgage provider when you buy a property that is, or has been, designed for commercial use.

How much does commercial landlord insurance cost?

Generally, the cost of a policy depends on several factors. For example:

  • The type of property you’re letting out
  • When the property was built
  • Where the property is located
  • The type of business that will be occupying the property

Your premium will be based on what you tell us about your property when you get a quote.

So, to get an accurate price make sure the details you give us are as accurate as possible.

What do I need to get a quote for commercial landlord insurance?

When you’re getting a quote there are a few things we’ll ask you for. To make the process go as smoothly as possible, here are some of the details you should have to hand when you’re getting a quote:

  • Your claims history (if any)
  • Your property type
  • Who the property is going to be occupied by
  • Whether or not the property is occupied already
  • What year the property was built
  • What would it cost to rebuild the property
  • Your claims history (if any)
Get a landlord insurance quote

What types of insurance should commercial landlords consider?

As a commercial landlord, buildings cover is included as standard. Combining our core covers with the additional covers you might need is the easiest way to tailor a policy to your needs. Along with the standard cover you may want to consider the following covers.

Landlord contents of up to £75,000 to help you cover the costs of replacing any fixtures or fittings in your property that might end up damaged by tenants.

Loss of rental income to make sure you’re cover for any money you lose if the property becomes unliveable due to events such as fire or flood. We’ll cover your loss of income if your tenants need to be relocated in these cases, too.

Accidental damage cover to protect your property's structure, floors, and fittings. So, it’ll not only protect you if your tenant accidentally damages a part of your building, but also if damage is caused from a leak in your property.

Every landlord is different, so the cover you need will be different too. When you get a quote online you can tailor your policy with the covers and levels that suit, or you can get in touch if you need to speak to an advisor.

    Who is responsible for commercial building insurance - the landlord or tenant?

    In most circumstances it is the responsibility of the landlord or property owner to arrange any commercial insurances needed to protect them in the event of a claim.

    This includes:

    • Landlord insurance to cover the bricks and mortar building

    • Contents insurance to protect the items that are supplied by you as the landlord. For example, things like built in units or counters that are part of the building.

    Additional covers

    Commercial properties come in all shapes and sizes – and your protection needs will depend on your property's location and the type of work your tenants are involved in.

    That’s why you can add any of the following covers when you get a quote:

    Accidental damage cover

    Covers your property's structure, floors and fittings, for example if your floor of your property is damage when the roof leaks unexpectedly.

    Landlord contents cover

    If you've provided your tenants with fixtures and fittings, shelving or racking, you can boost your protection with up to £75,000 worth of contents insurance.

    Subsidence, ground heave and landslip cover

    Engineers’ fees and repair costs for properties damaged by subsidence can soon add up – but you can rest easy if you take this optional cover (which is a requirement of some mortgages).

    Is AXA Landlord Insurance right for you?

    Not everything can always be done online

    Most landlords can get a quote quickly and easily online. And in a matter of minutes, you can get up to £10m property owners’ liability cover and protection for up to 10 properties.

    But for some landlords with more complex needs, for example with a mixed portfolio of commercial and residential properties, we may need to speak to you to make sure you’re properly protected.

    We won’t be able to cover you online if you want to insure:

    • More than 10 properties

    • A block of flats

    • A mixed portfolio of commercial and residential properties

    • A property outside Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales)

    If you do, we’ll need to get some more details from you to make sure we can give you a quote that meets your needs. You can call us now on 0330 159 1522

    Looking for insurance for your residential property instead?

    Need a little more help?

    Have a question about commercial landlord insurance? Get in touch and let us know how we can help.

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      Policy documents

      Make sure you have all the information you need before taking out a commercial landlord policy.


      Residential Landlord Insurance

      Protect your rental property in minutes with £10m property owners’ liability cover for up to 10 properties.

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