Direct Line offers different levels of landlord insurance options for property owners to consider. It begins with a basic cover policy and offers a series of optional add-ons to build the policy package most suitable to the property owner.

Landlords thinking of renting out a property or researching the best options for policies will be well served by getting multiple landlord insurance quotes. After reading through the different types of policies and coverages available, the landlord will be in a better position to compare quotes from providers to find the cheapest price and the best coverage.

Landlord insurance is different to a homeowners’ insurance policy, which will not cover rental properties. Rather than just one type of insurance, the policy is a package of different cover needed when renting out a property. Policies are often sold, offering both a basic package and a list of extras available to add-on as needed.

Direct Line’s standard policy covers:

• Building insurance, which includes boiler cover.
• New for old contents insurance, which includes replacement locks.
• Fixtures and fittings, covering damage to internal fittings not included in general building insurance.
• Public liability, which covers up to £2m.
• Alternative accommodation, in case the tenant has to be moved elsewhere due to damage caused by incidents such as fire, flood or theft.
• Floor coverings.
• Glass and sanitary ware.

Optional extras can then be added to the policy depending on the need of the landlord.

Added cover available includes:

• Landlord emergency, which sees a contractor sent out to an insured emergency at the property.
• Legal expenses, which covers legal defence costs, including repossession and eviction of squatters.
• Loss of rental income, which covers the landlord if the tenant has to move out in the event the property becomes uninhabitable due to an insured event such as fire or flood.
• Accidental damage, which can be for buildings or contents, or both.
• Employers’ liability.
• Theft by a tenant.
• Malicious damage by a tenant.

Direct Line’s landlord insurance will accept up to 15 properties on one policy, includes access to a round-the-clock legal helpline and access to a dedicated specialist claims handler.

Without any add-on covers, a Direct Line landlord insurance policy can start from £99.36 a year.

How many years in a row has Direct Line won What Mortgage Landlord Insurance Provider of the Year?

Direct Line for Business has been named landlord insurance provider of the year every year since 2013, including taking the title again in 2021. That’s a nine-year winning streak in an award that consumers completely choose. Those voting do so because of a positive experience with the insurer. While the exact reasons behind a nomination aren’t taken, it is usually down to customer service, being treated well, the price of cover or a good level of communication.

What Mortgage has run the awards for 28 years, celebrating and recognising the best businesses in the UK’s mortgage and personal finance industry through the eyes of the consumer.

The awards are organised in two phases.

The first sees the website ask consumers to nominate the provider they have had a positive experience with, and from that data the shortlist is drawn up. The second phase lasts for 17 weeks and sees the public asked to vote with a rating score out of five for their winner.

Then the winners in the 43 categories are revealed.

How many landlords have so far signed up with Direct Line landlord insurance?

So far, more than 250,000 landlords have chosen Direct Line’s landlord insurance to provide them cover for renting out properties.

The award-winning landlord insurance provider offers a package policy, which means landlords and property owners can build their policy to suit their needs.

It is also suited to both the property owner who is renting out just one building as well as a professional landlord with up to 15 properties on the books.

Along with a standard cover, Direct Line has a number of optional extra covers that can be chosen to create a policy that will best protect each property owner in their situation.

This is a popular way of selling landlord insurance as not every property owner will want or need the same cover. For instance, some will have a furnished property and therefore need landlord contents insurance if these become damaged and want to ensure that cover it is part of their policy.

What is included in a basic package differs from provider to provider, so it is important to review what different landlord insurance policies cover when comparing quotes. It can also help to read Direct Line landlord insurance reviews, such as the one written by NimbleFins.

For Direct Line, a standard policy includes building insurance, contents insurance, fixtures and fittings cover, public liability, alternative accommodation in case of severe damage by incidents like fire or flood, floor coverings and glass and sanitary ware.

Optional add-on covers include things such as loss of rental income, malicious damage by the tenant, accidental damage, theft by the tenant and legal costs to fight against evicting squatters.