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HMOInsurance

HMO Insurance

Specialist cover for houses in multiple occupation, built around licensing duties, shared facilities and higher tenant turnover.

Specialist cover for houses in multiple occupation, built around licensing duties, shared facilities and higher tenant turnover.

Communal areas
Rent across every room
Shared furnishings
Compare from 20+ Trusted Insurers

Cover for HMO landlords across the UK

Speak to a specialist 0330 027 0996

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Square Pegs Logo with transparent background
Mi Speciality logo with transparent background
DOA logo
Commercial Express logo with a red shield-like icon and white curved stripes to the left of the company name in black text
Aviva logo with a dark blue abstract square icon and the word โ€œAVIVAโ€ in bold uppercase blue letters.
Logo with the word ABACUS in blue surrounded by colorful abacus beads on horizontal lines.
Zurich Insurance logo with a stylized white โ€œZโ€ inside a blue circle and the word โ€œZURICHโ€ in blue capital letters.
Jensten Insurance Brokers logo with stylized dark blue text and two small orange rectangles inside the word โ€œJENSTEN.โ€
Iprism logo with lowercase black text and a multicolored paper-plane style icon on the upper right
MODUS logo with three blue vertical bars forming an abstract icon to the left of the brand name in blue uppercase letters.
Pink circular logo with the word โ€œcorinโ€ in lowercase white letters at the center.
Qunderwriting logo with a red circular โ€œQโ€ icon followed by grey lowercase text spelling โ€œunderwritingโ€.
NBS Underwriting logo with overlapping hexagon outlines in yellow and green beside navy text.
Gresham logo with gray text and an orange abstract flower-like icon on the right.
Aqueous Underwriting logo with gradient blue, green and purple text on a transparent background.
Arya Underwriting Services logo with stylized golden figure and lowercase โ€œaryaโ€ text on a transparent background
Nelson Policies at Lloyd's logo
Instant Underwriting logo with a stylized purple speed stripe icon and modern uppercase text

What is HMO insurance?

HMO insurance is landlord cover for a house in multiple occupation, a property let to tenants from more than one household who share facilities. Standard landlord policies often exclude HMOs, so it needs to be arranged specifically.

Any HMO with five or more occupiers from two or more households sharing a kitchen or bathroom requires a mandatory licence. Operating an unlicensed licensable HMO is a criminal offence.

The right HMO cover depends on:

Number of tenants and households
Whether the property is licensable
Tenant type, students, professionals, LHA
Furnishings you provide
Rental income across rooms
Number of HMOs let
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Is HMO insurance right for your property?

Is HMO insurance right for your property?

If your property is let to tenants from more than one household who share facilities, itโ€™s an HMO, whether itโ€™s a student house, a professional share or bedsits.

If your property is let to tenants from more than one household who share facilities, itโ€™s an HMO, whether itโ€™s a student house, a professional share or bedsits.

Shared Houses

Professionals or sharers on a joint or individual tenancy agreements.

Student HMOs

Properties let to students, with high turnover and long void periods.

Bedsit HMOs

Individual rooms let separately with shared kitchen or bathroom facilities.

Licensable HMOs

Five or more occupiers from two or more households sharing amenities.

Flats Above Shops

Section 257 and self-contained flats that still meet the HMO definition.

HMO Portfolios

Landlords letting several HMOs under one policy.

What could put your HMO at risk?

What could put your HMO at risk?

Fire and escape of water dominate HMO claims, and both are more likely where several households cook and wash independently under one roof.

Fire and escape of water dominate HMO claims, and both are more likely where several households cook and wash independently under one roof.

Damage to the structure, fixtures and fittings, and in an HMO, fire risk is higher because more people cook independently.

Flood water across a wooden kitchen floor, reflecting the units above.

How could a claim affect your property?

How could a claim affect your property?

In an HMO a single incident can stop income from every room at once. Here are four common scenarios and the cover that responds to each.

In an HMO a single incident can stop income from every room at once. Here are four common scenarios and the cover that responds to each.

Fire

A kitchen fire makes the whole house unlettable, not just one room.

What cover may respond?

Buildings + Loss of Rent

Escape of Water

A leak damages several rooms and tenants have to move out.

What cover may respond?

Buildings + Property Ownersโ€™ Liability

Storm Damage

Storm damage leaves rooms unusable while repairs are carried out.

What cover may respond?

Buildings + Loss of Rent

Visitor Injury

A tenant is injured on a shared staircase.

What cover may respond?

Property Ownersโ€™ Liability

A man getting into a car outside an office building

Who needs HMO insurance?

If your property is let to tenants from more than one household who share a kitchen or bathroom, itโ€™s an HMO, and most standard landlord policies wonโ€™t cover it.

This cover may be suitable for:

Landlords letting shared houses
Student HMO landlords
Owners of bedsit properties
Owners letting rooms individually
Landlords with several HMOs
Owners of flats above shops

Does your HMO need a licence?

Does your HMO need a licence?

Any HMO with five or more occupiers from two or more households needs a mandatory licence. Letโ€™s make sure your cover matches.

Any HMO with five or more occupiers from two or more households needs a mandatory licence. Letโ€™s make sure your cover matches.

cover

Cover built around your HMO

Cover built around your HMO

Most HMO landlords combine buildings cover with property ownersโ€™ liability for communal areas, then add loss of rent across multiple rooms and contents for shared furnishings.

Most HMO landlords combine buildings cover with property ownersโ€™ liability for communal areas, then add loss of rent across multiple rooms and contents for shared furnishings.

Buildings Insurance

Buildings Insurance

Protection for the structure, communal areas and permanent fittings, set to full rebuild cost.


Property Ownersโ€™ Liability

Property Ownersโ€™ Liability

Protection if a tenant or visitor is injured in a shared hallway, stairwell or kitchen.


Loss of Rent

Loss of Rent

Helps replace income from every room if the property becomes unlettable, not just one tenancy.


Landlord Contents

Landlord Contents

Cover for shared furnishings, white goods and appliances across communal areas and rooms.


Rent Guarantee

Rent Guarantee

Covers unpaid rent where one tenant defaults but the rest of the house continues.


Legal Expenses

Legal Expenses

Legal protection for tenancy disputes, possession claims and licensing matters.


Pair of red brick semi-detached houses with white bay windows and front gardens.

Why choose us for HMO insurance?

HMOs are declined by many standard landlord insurers. We place them with insurers who underwrite shared housing properly.

Specialist HMO insurers
Experienced UK advisers
Access to specialist insurers
Cover for student and professional HMOs
Support for licensable and non-licensable HMOs
Portfolio cover for multiple HMOs

How the quote process works

How the quote process works

Simple steps. Expert advice on the cover your HMO actually needs.

Simple steps. Expert advice on the cover your HMO actually needs.

1

Tell us about your HMO

Tenant numbers, households, and whether itโ€™s licensable.

2

Set your rebuild cost

Cover should reflect rebuild cost, not market value.

3

We compare specialist insurers

We search insurers who actively underwrite HMOs.

4

Get covered and get your documents

Receive your policy documents, usually the same day.

We're with you all the way

UK-based specialist advisers
Access to specialist insurers
No obligation, just expert help

Is your HMO sitting empty over summer?

Is your HMO sitting empty over summer?

Student HMOs often stand empty between academic years, and most policies restrict cover once a property is unoccupied.

Student HMOs often stand empty between academic years, and most policies restrict cover once a property is unoccupied.

Small unfurnished bedroom with a single bed, built-in storage and a wooden door.

Trusted by thousands of businesses across the UK

Trusted by thousands of businesses across the UK

From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.

From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.

HMO insurance guides

HMO insurance guides

Practical advice on licensing, fire safety and protecting rental income.

Practical advice on licensing, fire safety and protecting rental income.

From Tenant Damage to Legal Claims: Why HMO Landlord Insurance Matters

From Tenant Damage to Legal Claims: Why HMO Landlord Insurance Matters

Letting out a house in multiple occupation (HMO) brings more moving parts than a standard rental. From shared kitchens to multiple tenancyโ€ฆ

Why HMO Landlords Need Cover
HMO Landlord Insurance UK: How It Differs from Standard Landlord Cover

HMO Landlord Insurance UK: How It Differs from Standard Landlord Cover

Managing a house in multiple occupation (HMO) brings unique risks compared to letting out a single household property. Understanding the keyโ€ฆ

HMO Landlord Insurance
HMO vs Standard Buy-to-Let Insurance: Which One Fits Your Rental Property?

HMO vs Standard Buy-to-Let Insurance: Which One Fits Your Rental Property?

Choosing the right cover for a rental property in the UK depends on how that property is let. HMO landlord insurance and standard buy-to-letโ€ฆ

HMO vs Standard Buy-to-Let

HMO insurance FAQs

HMO insurance FAQs

Straight answers on licensing, cover and cost.

Straight answers on licensing, cover and cost.

HMO insurance is landlord cover for a house in multiple occupation, a property let to tenants from more than one household who share a kitchen or bathroom. Standard landlord policies often exclude HMOs.

Still have questions?

Our advisers are here to help you find the right solution.