Introduction to Landlord Insurance - Landlord Insurance refers to a form of Buildings and Contents Insurance contract designed for persons who have bought property to let.  The perils covered by the policy are almost identical to those covered under a standard home insurance policy except that the policy notes that the property is let and the liability section is worded so as to cover the landlords liability as property owner and as owner of the contents if the contents section is also covered.  The policy will also contain clauses limiting cover if the property is left unoccupied for any amount of time, usually the insurers will allow 30 days between tenants.  Some are quite happy to insure the building for period sin excess of 30 days unoccupancy but you will probably find that a limited number of insurance perils will apply.

Under buy to let buildings & contents insurance, you will find that the excess required will be slightly higher, �100 is a fairly typical excess with subsidence being the same at �1000.00.  As with every other type of insurance it pays to shop around but consider all of the covers on offer, and make sure that you are fully conversant with all of the rules and regulations relating to letting property. Some insurers will make it a condition of their policy that you following and implement all rules relating to renting property to tenants.

The number of insurers who are actively looking to underwrite landlord Insurance uk is quite small in relation to the number that will insure standard Buildings & Contents Insurance. However, property investment is increasing in popularity all the time and new insurers are entering the market at a steady rate. As well as Residential Property, some Landlords purchase Commercial Property for Renting, sometimes this has an element of residential use, if there is a Flat above the premises. The policy wordings again are fairly similar to a standard buildings insurance policy. Landlords can buy a variety of Insurance contracts to protect their interests, the ,most common are as follows:-

• Buildings Insurance

• Contents Insurance

• Landlords Legal Expenses

• Emergency Assistance

• Rent Guarantee.

What is Property Letting? - is a term relating to the acquisition of property ( usually a house) by an individual for the purpose of having a income and in the hope that the value of the home over a period of time will rise above the purchase price ( this is called Equity Value).  The property is normally acquired using a mortgage and the monthly rent is usually enough to pay the mortgage costs and leave the owner will an amount left over.

Who Rents Property?

• An increasingly mobile workforce whose work takes they to various places;

• Persons unable to make a start on the property ladder because of high prices;

• Persons worried that house prices are too high and are waiting for the market to stabilise;

• Local Authorities who have a responsibility for Social Housing.

Property Investment has been gaining in popularity in the United Kingdom over the last few years and should become even more popular after April 2006 when the government allows investment in residential property to form part of pension plans. Let protector hope to take advantage of the upsurge in property purchased for rent by selling landlord orientated policies.