HMO Landlord Insurance

Specialist landlord insurance designed to help cover HMO landlords. Helping to protect properties let to multiple tenants from accidental damage, liability claims and the risks that come with managing shared accommodation.

Letting a property to several tenants under one roof is different to standard lettings. HMOs can come with extra risks, and standard home insurance might not be enough to cover these. Landlord insurance can help protect both buy-to-let and HMO properties, with tailored cover to help protect against the additional risks of shared accommodation.

A house in multiple occupation (HMO) is a rental property occupied by three or more tenants who form more than one household. Usually, tenants have their own bedrooms but share communal facilities like kitchens, bathrooms, or living areas.

Larger HMOs are defined as properties with five or more people from at least two households. Student housing is a common example of an HMO, especially where tenants live independently but under the same roof. Student accommodation, house shares, and bedsits are common examples of HMO properties.

Before converting a property into an HMO, it's important to consider the legal requirements and potential risks. HMO landlords are usually responsible for providing suitable space and shared facilities, such as bathrooms and kitchens. They're also responsible for ensuring essential safety measures are in place, like smoke detectors, fire doors, and waste disposal areas.

HMO properties are subject to different regulations than standard buy-to-lets. If you manage a large HMO, you may need a licence from your local authority. You can check licensing rules and apply via the GOV.UK website.

HMO landlord insurance is a type of property insurance designed to help protect homes let to multiple tenants from different households. These properties often operate differently from standard rentals and may come with added responsibilities and risks.

Because HMOs involve more tenants and shared spaces, they may be at greater risk of property damage, contents theft, loss of rent, or liability claims. HMO landlord insurance can help cover these risks.

Our policy includes 40 covers as standard, offering suitable protection for landlords of houses in multiple occupation.

Our landlord insurance can also help protect against a wide range of hazards, from standard perils like fire and flood, to more specific risks for shared or multi-tenant properties.

HMO building insurance can help protect the structure of your property against various risks. As part of our landlord insurance, this cover can include:

• Protection against fire, storm, flood, theft, and environmental damage
• Cover for accidental damage to the building
• Malicious damage caused by tenants
• Costs to rebuild or repair the property following an insured event

These features are included as standard, helping to protect your property from unexpected repair costs.

Contents insurance for HMO properties can help protect items inside the property that belong to you as the landlord. This can include:

• Cover for furniture, fixtures, and fittings belonging to the landlord
• Protection against damage caused by insured events (e.g. fire or flood)
• Contents located in communal areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, and hallways
• Up to £5,000 per incident for loss or damage

This cover is particularly useful for furnished or part-furnished HMOs.

If your HMO becomes uninhabitable due to an insured event, loss of rent insurance can help cover the lost rental income while tenants are unable to stay in the property. It can also contribute towards the cost of alternative accommodation for your tenants.

Please note: this differs from rent guarantee insurance, which is a separate policy designed to cover unpaid rent due to tenant default.

Liability insurance can be important for HMO landlords, especially when multiple tenants are living in the property. This cover can help with:

• Property owners' liability: It can cover legal costs if someone is injured or their property is damaged due to an accident on the premises.
• Legal liability as the occupier or landlord: It can cover claims related to your actions or responsibilities while managing the property.

With multiple tenants, lost or stolen keys are a realistic risk. Replacement locks cover can help with:

• The cost of replacing locks if keys are lost or stolen.
• Preventing unauthorised access by fitting new locks to keep the property secure.

This type of insurance can help to provide peace of mind if you're tenants change frequently, for example, when managing high-turnover or student lets.

You can pay via interest-free Direct Debit over 12 months.

Policy limits and exclusions may apply. Please refer to our landlord insurance policy wording for full terms and conditions.