The short answer
Landlord insurance covers the rental building, the landlord's own appliances and equipment, income lost while the property is being repaired, and the landlord's liability to tenants and visitors. It is built for property you rent to others, whether a house, a suite or a unit in a condo. Insurers ask about tenants, vacancy and how the rental is managed, so a licensed broker needs those details up front.
- Owners of a detached house, townhouse or duplex rented to tenants
- Investors who bought a condo unit to rent out
- Homeowners with a basement suite or a garden suite
- Landlords between tenants, or planning renovations while the property is empty
- Owners moving out of a home they intend to keep and rent
4 licensed brokers in the network handle this. In Alberta, Canada, a request for landlord insurance can be offered to up to three of them, chosen because they are licensed for this line and place. They are test brokers while we are in demo.
See the brokers → Outside Alberta, Canada you can prepare and save a request today; sending opens place by place. Brokers answer with their own quotes. Broker.insure does not quote, advise or take commission.
01 / What it covers
The parts worth understanding
The rental building
The structure, the roof and fixed equipment, usually insured for the cost of rebuilding. Policies for rental properties list the causes they respond to, and the list is narrower in some policies than in an owner-occupied one.
Rental income loss
Pays some or all of the rent you lose while a covered loss makes the property unrentable. The length of time and how rent is calculated vary.
Landlord liability
Your legal responsibility if a tenant, a guest or a contractor is injured on the property because of something you were responsible for, or if the building damages a neighbour.
Landlord's contents
Appliances, furniture in a furnished unit, window coverings and equipment you supply. A tenant's own belongings are their responsibility.
Vacancy conditions
Many policies reduce or limit cover when a building has been empty beyond a set period. Learn the period, and how gaps between tenants or renovations are treated.
Legal expense and protection options
Some insurers offer extras that help with costs after property damage by a tenant. Availability varies, and exclusions are common, so read the wording.
02 / Get ready
Bring this, and expect these questions
Gather
- The property's address, type, age, size and the year of major updates
- Whether it is a whole house, a suite, or a unit in a condominium corporation
- Who lives in it now and the type of tenancy: long-term, month-to-month, furnished or short-term
- Your lease template and whether you require tenants to carry their own insurance
- How you screen tenants and who manages the property, you or a professional manager
- Dates of any renovations planned and how long the property may sit empty
- Your mortgage lender and loan details, if any
- Claims history on any property you own, with dates
- A list of appliances and furnishings you supply
A broker will ask
- Do you live in the building, or is it entirely rented out?
- How many units or suites are rented, and to whom?
- Is the tenancy long-term, short-term or furnished?
- Does the property sit empty between tenants or during renovations, and for how long?
- Do you require tenants to carry their own insurance?
- Who manages the property and handles maintenance?
- Has there been any previous claim, particularly water damage?
- Do you also own the home you live in, and should that sit with the same insurer?
Not sure of an answer? Leave it. "Not known yet" is a fine answer, and a broker will help you fill it in.
03 / Build your request
Answer a few questions. Get your own list.
Pick what fits. Your answers shape the list beside them, and they are saved to your request as plain facts a broker can read. "Not sure yet" is always a fine answer.
04 / Three situations
See which one sounds like yours
A homeowner renting a basement suite
A family finished a legal suite in their basement and rented it to a young couple. They live upstairs and assumed their existing policy would cover everything, but the suite has its own entrance and kitchen.
First steps. Tell the current insurer or a broker about the suite before anything goes wrong. Ask how the policy treats a rented portion of an owner-occupied home, and ask whether the tenants' own insurance and the family's liability cover need to change.
An investor with a condo rented to a tenant
An investor in another city bought a one-bedroom condo to rent out. The property manager handles showings and the lease, and the condo corporation holds a master policy on the building.
First steps. Get the corporation's bylaw on what it insures and who pays the deductible, and send it to the broker along with the lease terms. Ask about loss assessment, rental income cover, and what happens if the unit is empty between tenants.
A landlord renovating between tenants
After a long-term tenant moved out, the owner of a duplex plans to renew the kitchen and floors, which will leave one side empty for months. The policy renewal falls in the middle of the work.
First steps. Tell the broker the planned dates and the scope of the work before they start. Ask how the insurer treats a vacant building under renovation, whether builders' risk is needed for the project, and what the contractor must carry.
05 / Words you will hear
The jargon, in plain words
- Loss of rent
- Cover that replaces some of the rent you cannot collect while a covered loss keeps the unit empty. The time it pays for is capped and written into the policy.
- Vacancy clause
- A policy condition that cuts or removes certain protections once a building has sat empty beyond a stated number of days. Gaps between tenants can trigger it.
- Malicious damage
- Deliberate harm to the property, such as vandalism. Whether the people living in the unit are covered for it varies, so read the wording closely.
- Additional insured
- A person or company, such as a lender or a manager, listed on the policy to show they have an interest in the property. Lenders commonly ask for this.
- Occupancy
- Who lives in the property and how. Insurers treat owner-occupied homes and rentals differently, so the kind of tenancy shapes the policy.
06 / Common mistakes
What trips people up
- Using a standard home policy on a property that is rented out.
- Not telling the insurer when a suite is added or a tenant moves in.
- Letting a property sit empty or under renovation without checking the vacancy rules.
- Assuming tenants' insurance protects the landlord's building.
- Treating a short-term or furnished rental as an ordinary long-term lease.
Ready when you are
Turn this into one clear request.
Save it, add what you know, and choose when to send it. A licensed broker who handles landlord insurance takes it from there.
07 / Questions people ask
Straight answers
What does landlord insurance cover?
It covers the rental building and your own equipment inside it, rent lost during a covered repair, and your liability as the owner. It does not cover your tenants' belongings. Policies differ on listed causes, vacancy and what damage by tenants is included, so a broker will go through the wording for each point.
Do I need landlord insurance if my tenant has tenant insurance?
Yes. Tenant insurance protects the tenant's belongings and their own liability, not your building or your loss of rental income. Requiring tenants to carry cover is sensible and it supports your protection, but it is not a replacement for a policy on the property you own.
What is the difference between landlord insurance and home insurance?
Home insurance is built for an owner who lives in the property. Landlord insurance is built for property rented to others, and it adds rental income protection and landlord liability. It may also restrict cover when the building is vacant. Using the wrong type can leave a claim denied, so tell the insurer how the property is used.
Does landlord insurance cover damage caused by tenants?
Sometimes, and only within limits. Accidental damage or vandalism may be included, while wear, neglect and intentional damage are commonly excluded. Some insurers offer an extra for damage by tenants. Ask exactly what is included and whether there is a time limit on reporting it.
What happens if my rental property is vacant?
Many policies limit or exclude certain losses once a building has been empty for longer than a stated period, such as water damage or vandalism. Gaps between tenants and renovations count. Ask the broker for the exact period in each policy, and whether you can arrange an extension in advance.
Can I get landlord insurance for a short-term rental?
Short-term and vacation rentals are rated differently from long-term leases, and many standard landlord policies do not cover them. Some insurers offer specific cover and others do not. Be clear about how often and how long guests stay, and ask the broker to find insurers that handle your arrangement.
General information, not insurance advice. Broker.insure is a directory and request service: it is not an insurer and does not quote, bind or advise. Policy terms, availability and what is required where you live depend on your situation and on licensed professionals. Updated 2026-10-31.