Frequently Asked Questions

You can share your property details with us in various ways:

• Call us directly at 01206 655 899 for an immediate discussion.
• Email your current Insurance schedule to: Enquiries@protectmylet.com
• Fill out our quote form on our website: Request a Quote – Protect My Let

Yes, we provide additional coverage for Landlord Home Emergencies, Rent Guarantee (in case your tenant doesn’t pay), and property refurbishment needs before letting. We also cover serviced accommodations like Airbnb or holiday lets, as well as rent-to-rent and rent-to-serviced accommodations. Our broader broker network through Howden offers various insurance policies, including personal home, car, and pet insurance.

Getting a building valuation for your rental property is crucial to determine appropriate coverage. We can assist you with this to ensure your property is adequately protected.

As a leaseholder, the building’s structure is often covered by a separate freeholder. However, you’re responsible for fixtures, fittings, furniture, white goods, carpets, and curtains. Our Landlords Contents insurance can cover these aspects, typically included in Building’s cover for leasehold or shared building situations.

It’s advisable to secure insurance upon property exchange, as you become legally responsible at that stage. Solicitors and lenders typically require insurance in place before the exchange.

Yes, we’re happy to offer contents only insurance cover.

There’s no legal requirement for dedicated landlord insurance. However, a standard home insurance policy won’t cover rental activities. Lenders often demand insurance before tenants move in. Failure to comply might breach mortgage terms.

Most standard home insurance doesn’t actually cover a property when it’s being rented – something that many new landlords don’t always realise – so it’s essential that you get specialist landlord insurance for your property, or you could get caught out.

Landlord insurance is specifically designed for properties that are being rented out. It not only protects your capital investment, but it also includes liability cover, which protects you against claims if your tenants were to hurt themselves within your property through something that could be considered your fault. Landlord liability can cover the damages and the legal costs, which standard home insurance would not.

Yes, we understand that properties are all built in different ways, which is why we offer landlord insurance for properties of both standard and non-standard construction. So, if your building is timber-framed or even listed, we can help. Just call 01206 655 899.

• Length of unoccupancy allowance: In most policies, this varies from 30 days’ allowance to 90 days and is worth considering. A policy with a shorter allowance may be cheaper, but does it give you enough time to find and house new tenants once the previous ones leave, especially in today’s rental market?
• Restrictions when unoccupied: Many policies put a short limit on how many days a property can be unoccupied before the insurance cover becomes restricted or even void. So, for example, if you wish to redecorate and freshen up your property, does your policy let you? This is something worth checking.
• Tenant damage cover: This is included in some policies or it may be an optional add-on. If already included, some policies will put a low limit on it, commonly £5,000. Ask yourself, for example, if this would be enough to cover the damage if a tenant flooded the bathroom or if they caused malicious damage? With a good policy, you should be able to increase your limit for tenant damage cover for a small fee.
• Landlord legal expenses: As a landlord, you could end up in situations where you need legal help or even representation that you haven’t anticipated. For example, if you or your tenants are restricted accessing part of your property like the driveway or shared path, leading to a Property Infringement case, or if the HMRC enquire into your tax payments as a landlord. Both of these examples could prove costly if you don’t have specific landlord legal assistance.
• Tenancy eviction and pursuit of rent arrears: Did you know that legal fees for serving an eviction notice on a non-paying tenant can start at around £1,000? And that doesn’t even take into account the rent you’ll be losing while pursuing the eviction. An effective landlord policy should cover you for this, giving you peace of mind that you won’t end up unexpectedly out of pocket.
• Lastly, always check your small print. What may seem like a good deal at first sight may not cover everything you actually need it to!

The excess is the amount you need to pay towards every claim as per your landlord insurance policy. So, for example, if your excess was £250, you would pay the first £250 of any claim regardless of the overall value. For example, if your claim settlement was £500, you would pay the first £250 and your insurer would pay you the remaining £250.

Policy excess can vary depending on your circumstances. Buildings and contents excesses are usually £250 per section, with the subsidence excess usually £1,000. Please note that higher excesses apply for escape of water.

If your property is awaiting tenants and you don’t have a signed agreement, we can initially cover your property with unoccupied landlord insurance and then seamlessly switch to cover your tenants when you have let the house. Just call us for more details.

Yes, we’re happy to offer contents only insurance cover.

In most cases your quote will be valid for 30 days, however this can depend on the insurer with some offering longer periods. We always recommend to double check your quote letter which will confirm the validation period.

You can get a valid quote up to 30 days in advance, but you may enter your details at any time to get an idea of our prices.

You can also buy your policy with a start date up to 30 days in advance, so you don’t need to wait until your existing policy has ended before switching to Protect My Let.

No, we don’t charge anything extra for you to pay by credit or debit card.

Yes, we offer a monthly instalment plan paid via direct debit, subject to your quote. There’s no deposit paid upfront, and the total sum is collected over 10 equal instalments subject to an interest charge of 5% (minimum charge £15).

The payment plan is a credit facility to pay an insurance premium, provided by Premium Credit Limit.