Covers compensation and legal costs if someone is injured, or their property damaged, because of your property. Arranged as part of a wider property policy, not on its own.
Covers compensation and legal costs if someone is injured, or their property damaged, because of your property. Arranged as part of a wider property policy, not on its own.
Injury from your buildingCommunal areasLegal costs
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Property owners’ liability covers your legal responsibility as the owner of a building. If a tenant, visitor or passer-by is injured, or their property is damaged, because of the condition of your property, it pays compensation and legal costs.
Not sold on its own. Property owners liability sits as part of a wider property policy, usually alongside buildings cover under landlord or property owners insurance. Ask for a property owners quote and liability will be part of it.
Owning a building creates a duty of care to anyone lawfully on it, and to the public around it. That duty exists whether the property is let, empty or being worked on.
The right liability cover depends on:
Type and size of propertyWhether it’s let or emptyCommunal areas you controlLevel of indemnity requiredNumber of properties ownedWhether contractors attend
Is property owners’ liability right for you?
Is property owners’ liability right for you?
If you own a building that other people enter or walk past, you owe them a duty of care, and this is the cover that responds when it’s breached.
If you own a building that other people enter or walk past, you owe them a duty of care, and this is the cover that responds when it’s breached.
Residential Landlords
Where tenants and their visitors are on your property regularly.
Commercial Landlords
Where a tenant’s customers and staff use the building daily.
Block Freeholders & RMCs
Where communal stairs, lifts and car parks remain your responsibility.
Owners of Empty Property
Where you remain liable even with nobody living there.
Property Developers
Where a site or part-built structure creates risk to the public.
Portfolio Owners
Where liability across several properties sits under one policy.
What could lead to a liability claim?
What could lead to a liability claim?
Slips and trips in communal areas cause most liability claims, with falling masonry and faulty installations close behind.
Slips and trips in communal areas cause most liability claims, with falling masonry and faulty installations close behind.
How could a claim affect you?
How could a claim affect you?
Liability claims combine compensation with legal costs, and can be pursued years after the incident. Here are four scenarios and the cover that responds.
Liability claims combine compensation with legal costs, and can be pursued years after the incident. Here are four scenarios and the cover that responds.
Fire
A tenant trips on a broken step in a communal area.
What cover may respond?
Property Owners’ Liability
Escape of Water
A visitor is injured by a falling roof tile.
What cover may respond?
Property Owners’ Liability
Storm Damage
A contractor is hurt while working at an empty property.
What cover may respond?
Property Owners’ Liability
Visitor Injury
Water from your building damages the property next door.
What cover may respond?
Property Owners’ Liability
Anyone who owns a building that other people use or pass. It isn’t legally required, but a single injury claim can far exceed the cost of the property itself once compensation and legal costs are combined.
This cover may be suitable for:
Residential landlordsCommercial property ownersFreeholders and RMC directorsProperty developersPortfolio landlordsOwners of mixed-use buildingsCover often bought alongside liability
Cover often bought alongside liability
Property owners’ liability sits alongside buildings cover, one protects people, the other protects the property itself.
Property owners’ liability sits alongside buildings cover, one protects people, the other protects the property itself.
Buildings Insurance
Covers the structure itself, liability covers harm to people, buildings covers harm to the property.
Employers’ Liability
A legal requirement if you directly employ anyone, such as a caretaker or cleaner.
Loss of Rent
Helps replace rental income if an insured event makes the property uninhabitable.
Landlord Contents
Covers furnishings and appliances you provide, which liability cover doesn’t.
Unoccupied Cover
Liability continues while a property is empty, but buildings cover usually restricts, this fills the gap.
Legal Expenses
Covers legal costs for disputes beyond liability claims, including tenancy and contract matters.
How the quote process works
How the quote process works
Getting property owners’ liability takes four steps: tell us about the property, choose your limit, compare specialist insurers, then get covered, often the same day.
Getting property owners’ liability takes four steps: tell us about the property, choose your limit, compare specialist insurers, then get covered, often the same day.
Tell us about the property
Type, use, and whether it’s let, empty or under works.
Choose your indemnity limit
£1 million to £10 million, depending on what’s required.
We compare specialist insurers
We search our panel of specialist property insurers.
Get covered and get your documents
Receive your policy documents, usually the same day.
UK-based specialist advisersAccess to specialist insurersNo obligation, just expert helpTrusted by thousands of businesses across the UK
Trusted by thousands of businesses across the UK
From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.
From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.
Property owners’ liability guides
Property owners’ liability guides
Practical advice on duty of care, indemnity limits and communal areas.
Practical advice on duty of care, indemnity limits and communal areas.
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Property owners’ liability FAQs
Property owners’ liability FAQs
Straight answers on duty of care, limits and what’s covered.
Straight answers on duty of care, limits and what’s covered.
It covers your legal responsibility as the owner of a building. If someone is injured, or their property damaged, because of the condition of your property, it pays compensation and legal costs.
Still have questions?
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