Buildings Insurance
Buildings insurance is an insurance policy that covers the structure of a property, for example the walls, roof, floors, fixtures and fittings such as kitchens and bathroom suites, against risks like fire, flood, storm damage, escape of water and subsidence. In a rented home it is normally the landlord’s responsibility to arrange and pay for buildings insurance, not the tenant’s.
A buildings policy may cover:
Rebuilding or repairing the property if it is damaged by an insured event.
The cost of professional fees and alternative accommodation or loss of rent while the property is uninhabitable.
It does not usually cover a tenant’s belongings, those would be protected, if at all, by separate contents insurance taken out by the tenant.
Buildings insurance does not change a landlord’s core legal duties. Under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) rules and the wider Renters' Rights Act, the landlord must keep the structure and exterior in repair and ensure the property is safe.
If, for example, a leak or structural problem makes the property unsafe, the landlord cannot simply blame the insurer or delay repairs because of an insurance dispute. Renters should report damage promptly and keep records, but their rights come from housing law and the tenancy agreement, not from the insurance policy itself.
