Protecting Your Rental Investment
Residential Landlord Insurance
Landlord insurance designed to protect your rental property investment — covering the building, loss of rent, and tenant-related risks that standard home insurance doesn't address.
Why Landlords Need Specialist Insurance
Residential rental properties face risks that owner-occupied homes don't. Tenants may cause damage beyond normal wear and tear, you face loss of rental income during repairs, and regulatory requirements under the Residential Tenancies Act create additional liability exposure. Standard home insurance policies don't adequately cover landlord-specific risks like loss of rent, intentional tenant damage, or meth contamination. We structure landlord insurance programmes that protect your income stream, your asset, and your compliance obligations — whether you own one rental or a portfolio.
What We Cover
Our landlord insurance programmes go beyond basic building cover to address the specific risks of renting property in New Zealand's regulatory environment.
Cover Types
Who Is This For?
Why Exclusive Insurance Services?
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What Insurers Typically Need
Information an insurer may require
Underwriters generally ask for the following when quoting or renewing this class of risk. Being ready with accurate information usually improves outcomes on price and wording.
Property address, build type, sum insured and any known natural-hazard exposure
Tenancy details: private, boarding house, HNZ / Kāinga Ora, short-stay / Airbnb
Rental income, lease type (periodic vs fixed) and any rent-guarantee arrangement
History of prior claims including meth, tenant damage and loss-of-rent
Meth testing history and any known contamination on the property
Property manager details (self-managed vs managed by an agency)
When Something Happens
Claims considerations
We help manage the claims process from notification through to settlement, coordinating with you, the insurer and other parties involved and advocating for your interests throughout. Things that commonly affect a claim in this area:
Retain the tenancy agreement, bond record and property inspection reports — they are central to any tenant-damage claim.
Intentional-damage cover differs materially from accidental damage; the tenancy tribunal / police report usually determines which trigger applies.
Meth-contamination claims turn on baseline testing and Ministry of Health thresholds — early testing helps.
Loss-of-rent settlement is subject to a maximum indemnity period; ensure it reflects realistic re-let timeframes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between home insurance and landlord insurance?
Landlord insurance specifically covers risks associated with renting out your property — including loss of rent, intentional tenant damage, and landlord liability. Standard home insurance doesn't cover these landlord-specific exposures.
Does landlord insurance cover tenant damage?
Yes. Good landlord insurance covers both accidental and intentional tenant damage, subject to policy terms. This includes damage to the building, fixtures, and landlord-provided chattels. Meth contamination cover is available as an add-on with many insurers.
Can I get insurance for loss of rent?
Yes. Loss of rent cover pays your rental income if the property becomes uninhabitable due to an insured event (fire, storm, earthquake). Most policies cover up to 12 months of lost rent while repairs are completed.
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About this page
Reviewed by Adi Sehgal
Verified adviserDirector & Principal Adviser
This page is general information about the class of cover. Actual cover, terms, premiums, limits, exclusions and eligibility vary by insurer, policy wording, underwriting decision and individual client circumstances. Nothing on this page constitutes personalised financial advice.