Commercial landlord insurance

Protection for your commercial property

When it comes to commercial property insurance, landlords need flexibility. Whether that's cover for a number of properties, or a one-off commercial venture, with Simply Business the aim is to keep things simple, but specific. We'll help you find the protection you need, choosing from a range of covers including buildings insurance, contents insurance, property owners’ liability cover, rental income protection – also known as business interruption cover – and employers’ liability insurance.

Need cover for a residential property as well? Take a look at our combined landlord insurance.

What is commercial landlord insurance?

Commercial landlord insurance covers landlords who let to third party businesses. It covers different risks to residential landlord insurance because commercial buildings, such as shops, are often built differently to domestic ones and also tend to get more visitors, requiring specific protection.

Our consultant Hattie takes you through the essentials of good commercial landlord cover.

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What does commercial landlord insurance cover?

A commercial landlord policy will cover you against specific risks linked to shop, office, and other commercial tenants. Here are just a few things that your Simply Business policy could cover:

• From damage in a fire to sudden flooding or vandalism, buildings cover could pay for repairs and rebuilding. We’ll also check whether you need contents cover for shelving or appliances you provide to your tenants
• Small accidents can cause big claims, whether it’s down to a trailing wire or a loose tile. We’ll include landlord liability insurance to keep you, your tenants, and their customers covered
• Business interruption cover (or rental income protection) is also an important option, to keep you and your tenants trading following an insured and unexpected event, such as a flood.

Remember, a commercial landlord policy covers you for risks attached to third party businesses renting from you. If your tenants are living in your property, you'll need a specific residential landlord insurance policy, or a combination of both, through comprehensive landlord insurance.

Watch the details

It’s very important to make sure you understand what you need from your commercial landlord insurance. Use the check points below to get you thinking.

• Is your property a leasehold? If so, check with the property manager whether you need to buy buildings insurance, as this is often already covered by the freeholder
• If you employ people, even in your own home, you’re legally obliged to take out employers’ liability insurance. Not doing this could lead to a heavy fine
• Make sure you read and understand any exclusions to your policy. Simply Business offers you the chance to read the policy documents in full before you buy
• Remember that conventional home insurance policies will not cover a buy-to-let property
• You should state the rebuild cost of your property, not its market value, if buying buildings insurance

Why Simply Business?

• Over 600,000 customers (and counting)
• Online quotes, in under 10 minutes
• Claims handled by an award-winning team
• Quote comparisons from multiple insurers
• An expert, UK-based contact centre

All of this, plus expert insight and connections in our Knowledge Centre, full of tips, articles, videos, and podcasts to help you manage your rental.