Rent guarantee insurance
An insurance policy a landlord buys that pays the rent, and often legal costs, if a tenant falls into arrears. It is the landlord's cost, never the tenant's.
In short: Rent guarantee insurance pays a landlord the rent, up to a limit, when a tenant stops paying, and often covers the legal costs of recovering the home. It is optional and bought by the landlord. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 the cost cannot be passed on to the tenant.
英格兰。 于 5 October 2026 对照法律进行核查. 信息，非法律建议。
Policies differ, so read the terms. Typical conditions:
- the tenant must have passed referencing that meets the insurer's standard, sometimes with a guarantor;
- arrears must be reported within a set number of days;
- there is often an excess period before payments start, and a monthly or total limit;
- legal expenses cover may only apply to certain grounds or courts.
Since 1 May 2026 landlords in England can take no more than one month's rent in advance, which has made insurance and guarantors more common ways to manage the risk of arrears.
A landlord cannot require a tenant to buy or pay for this insurance: that would be a prohibited payment.
Related: Guarantor, Prohibited payment, Grounds for possession
来源
Guides on this
Guide
Rent in advance and rent bidding: what the Renters’ Rights Act allows
Since 1 May 2026 you cannot take rent before the tenancy agreement is signed, can take at most one month's rent before it starts, and cannot invite or accept offers above the rent you advertised.
Guide
Making Tax Digital for landlords: who, when and how
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax began on 6 April 2026 for qualifying income over £50,000; £30,000 follows in April 2027 and £20,000 in April 2028. What counts, quarterly updates and joint owners.
Guide
Landlord insurance: is it a legal requirement, and what does it cover?
No law makes a landlord in England buy insurance, but your mortgage, your lease and your existing policy may. What landlord policies usually cover, what they leave out, and what you cannot pass to the tenant.
Guide
First-time landlord checklist for England
From deciding to let to the first rent arriving: the consents, safety checks, licence, right to rent, written statement, deposit, inventory, landlord database and tax, in order, as the law stands after 1 May 2026.
Related terms
Glossary
Client money protection (CMP)
Cover that repays landlords and tenants if an agent loses or misuses money it holds for them. Compulsory for agents in England that hold client money.
Glossary
Capital gains tax 60-day report
When you sell a UK home that is not your main home and owe capital gains tax, you must report and pay it to HMRC within 60 days of completion.
Glossary
Council tax liability
Who must pay council tax on a home. Usually the tenant living there; the owner for an HMO, an empty home or where nobody lives there as their main home.
Glossary
Ground rent
A yearly payment a leaseholder makes to the freeholder under the lease. For most new long residential leases since 30 June 2022 it is limited to a peppercorn (nothing).
Glossary
Guarantor
A person who promises in writing to pay the rent, or cover other losses, if the tenant does not. Often asked of students or people on a lower income.
Glossary
Leasehold
Owning a home for a fixed number of years under a lease from the freeholder. Most flats in England are leasehold.