I’m afraid it’s not sexy, but it’s happening.
Landlord White Goods & Appliance insurance is a real and new’ish thing, and it’s one of those niche products that’s proving to be a saving grace for landlords that don’t live local to their rental property(ies) and/or if they have a history of excessive spending on replacing or repairing appliances.
Generally speaking, landlords are responsible for repairing and maintaining appliances (e.g. fridge, freezer, cooker etc) that they provide with the rental property, and that can be costly, which is why products like this exist.
In short, White Goods & Appliance insurance protects appliances throughout your rental property against breakdowns and accidental damage.
Table of contents:
- Do you need White Goods & Appliance insurance?
- What products do White Goods & Appliance Insurance cover?
- Top tips for buying Landlord Appliance Insurance
- Recommended White Goods & Appliance insurance provider
Do you need White Goods & Appliance insurance?
Absolutely not.
Let’s be clear, appliance insurance isn’t anywhere near as critical as landlord building insurance. But you already knew that.
However, that’s not to say that it can’t save you from a buttload of added expense and headaches, and therefore be useful.
So the question that you should be asking is: should I have White Goods & Appliance insurance?
Unfortunately, I can’t make that decision for you. However, perhaps I can offer you some points to consider in order to help you decide:
- How much have you spent on repairing and maintaining appliances in the past?
- Are your appliances particularly old and likely to fail?
- Are your appliances under warranty, and if so, what’s covered?
- How many appliances do you provide and what’s the value of them?
- How much of a pain would it be if you had to routinely manage appliance maintenance Vs having someone else manage it (perhaps this is more critical for long-distance landlords)?
I guess one useful point to bear in mind is that you could *try* it, and then drop it like a bag of farts if it doesn’t prove its worth.
Personally, when it comes to these niche insurance products, I generally ask myself the following: is the cost worth of the policy worth the hassle it will alleviate?
That’s all it really boils down to [for me].
In fact, White Goods & Appliance insurance is geared towards landlords like me: lazy and forever looking for ways to maintain an optimal peace of mind. I value that more than maximising profit.
What products do White Goods & Appliance Insurance cover?
Obviously it will vary depending on the provider and policy, but typically:
- Washing Machine
- Washer / Dryer
- Fridge
- Fridge / Freezer
- Freezer
- Chest Freezer
- Oven Inc Hob and Hood
- Dishwasher
- Tumble Dryer
- Microwave
- Range Cooker
- American Fridge Freezer
That’s not an extensive list, but you get the gist, hopefully.
Top tips for buying Landlord Appliance Insurance
- Read and understand all the terms and conditions in your proposed policy. Often the cheapest isn’t always the best suited for your circumstances, and that’s especially true with insurance!
- Ensure that all of your appliances are covered under the policy.
- Check if your policy requires you to pay an excess fee with any claims, and check the amount. Generally speaking, policies with higher excess fees have a lower premium. A lot of people get caught out with this, and it’s tragic. For example, they get mesmerised by the 1p monthly cost, and then get screwed by the £1million excess fee when they claim.
- Get written confirmation of any discussed details that are not specifically written in your policy, which you feel could come under scrutiny and impact future claims.
- Don’t auto-renew insurance policies, it’s usually the most expensive way to renew. Shop around and/or negotiate with your existing provider close to the end of the term.
- Landlord insurance is tax deductible :)
Recommended White Goods & Appliance insurance provider
This isn’t intended to be a sales pitch (I swear!), but I do want to make you aware of my affiliate partner Zest, who are a highly rated landlord insurance provider (who offer my readership an exclusive discount code, BINGO!).
The reason I’m more than happy to give them some airtime is because…
Supplier | Rating | Details | Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rating TrustPilot Reviews | ‘Appliance Insurance’ CoverProtect appliances throughout your rental properties against breakdowns and accidental damage.
*mention the exclusive discount code during sign up and get 10% off your policy. | PriceDiscount available*£24.75Per month, Inc VAT | More Info *10% Discount Code: PIP10 |
Please note, I try my best to keep the information of each supplier up-to-date, but you should read the T&C’s from their website for the most up-to-date information.
That said, I always recommend landlords to do their own due diligence and shop around.
Right, that’s all I’ve got for you on this dry-arse subject. But hopefully I’ve been somewhat useful, and helped you decide whether this is something you need in your life… or wish you never wasted your time researching.
Any questions or feedback appreciated. Use the comment form below…
Disclaimer: I'm just a landlord blogger; I'm 100% not qualified to give legal or financial advice. I'm a doofus. Any information I share is my unqualified opinion, and should never be construed as professional legal or financial advice. You should definitely get advice from a qualified professional for any legal or financial matters. For more information, please read my full disclaimer.