As a landlord, you don't typically need contents insurance for your rental property unless you're providing furnished accommodation. Standard landlord insurance covers the building structure and any fixtures and fittings you own, but your tenants are responsible for insuring their own personal belongings. However, if you're letting a furnished property with items like sofas, beds, or appliances, you should consider landlord contents cover to protect these items against theft, damage, or accidental loss. This ensures you're not left out of pocket if you need to replace furniture or white goods between tenancies.

Whilst there's no legal requirement for landlords to have insurance in Ireland, it's strongly recommended and often essential for practical reasons. If you have a mortgage on your rental property, your lender will require buildings insurance as a condition of the loan. Additionally, many letting agents won't manage properties without adequate landlord insurance in place. Even if you own the property outright, landlord insurance protects you against significant financial risks including property damage, liability claims, and loss of rental income.

No, landlord insurance does not cover your tenants' personal belongings or contents. Your policy typically covers the building structure, fixtures and fittings, and any furnishings you provide as the landlord. Your tenants need their own contents insurance (also called renters' insurance) to protect their personal possessions such as clothing, electronics, furniture they've brought in, and other belongings. It's worth advising new tenants to arrange their own contents cover, as they may not realise they're not protected under your landlord policy.

First of all, check your policy documents to see if you are covered for the accident or incident that has occurred. If so, most insurers will have a 24 hour emergency assistance team that you can call to inform them of what has happened. They will usually arrange for someone to call out and access the damage. They may also advise you of the best thing to do in the interim, as well as help you seek alternative accommodation if your home is damaged by flood or fire.

Many landlord insurance policies do include loss of rent cover, but this varies by insurer and policy type. This cover typically protects you if your property becomes uninhabitable due to an insured event (such as fire, flood, or storm damage) and you're unable to collect rent whilst repairs are carried out. The cover usually pays out for a specified period, often up to 12 months, and may also include alternative accommodation costs for displaced tenants. However, loss of rent due to tenant default or void periods between tenancies generally isn't covered. Check your policy details or speak with us to understand exactly what's included in your cover.