Landlord Appliance & White Goods Insurance

Table of contents

• Do you need White Goods & Appliance insurance?
• Who should get Landlord Appliance insurance?
• What products do White Goods & Appliance Insurance cover?
• Biggest concern with 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 is a joke compared to landlord building insurance – it’s no way near as critical. I’d also put Landlord Maintenance & Home Emergency Cover Insurance (which includes boiler cover) ahead in the list of priorities.

The reality is, there are so many insurance products available to landlords these days that it’s economically unviable to snap them all up, so we need to pick our battles depending on our circumstances.

I guess one useful point to bear in mind is that you could *try* it, and then drop it like a bag of hot farts if it doesn’t prove its worth. Ultimately, I believe appliance insurance is nice to have if it makes sense; I can definitely see the value in it, especially for rental properties that come loaded with white goods and appliances, but I can also understand why many landlords are happy to take their chances without.

Who should get Landlord Appliance insurance?

In other words, what kind of landlord does this product most make sense for?

First and foremost, appliance insurance would be as useful as a chocolate teapot for any landlord that provides the bare minimum appliances. In fact, it’s not even designed for those landlords. For example, I have a few rental properties which I only provide a cooker (oven and hobs) and fridge/freezer, so it makes little no sense for me to get appliance cover, in my opinion. The manufacturer’s warranty lasts between 3-5 years on a fridge/freezer, and if it breaks down after that point, it would be more economical to replace it altogether.

Other points to consider include:

• 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)?
• Is the cost worth of the policy worth the hassle it will alleviate?

What products do White Goods & Appliance Insurance cover?

Obviously it will vary depending on the 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.

It’s important to note that appliance insurance usually doesn’t include boiler cover. I make that point because – as alluded to earlier – I’d argue that having access to heat and water is far more important than a dysfunctional appliance (although, a faulty fridge/freezer can be pretty devastating). Not to mention, from my experience, repairing a broken boiler is usually more unkind to the old bank balance. Basically, I think boiler cover is a essential for landlords if the manufacturer’s warranty has expired.

Biggest concern with White Goods & Appliance insurance cover

I recently put the feelers out on Twitter, asking fellow landlords what they thought about appliance cover. There was an overwhelming concern for how slow the call-out times are (based on their experience). By no means was this a conclusive survey, but it is something to bear in mind.

Yes, on one hand, appliance insurance can save landlords money, but on the other hand, it can be irritating for tenants if the repairs take too long.

The responsive rate will ultimately depend on how strong the insurance provider’s “repair network” is, so it’s reasonable to presume that some will be better than others.

Before opting for any particular policy with a specific provider, I would investigate the average call-out time.

White Goods & Appliance insurance provider

I don’t know Row.co.uk from Adam, but they’re a company I came across that offers landlord appliance cover, and they have relatively good TrustPilot reviews. I’m not endorsing them, I’m just sharing an example. Needless to say, do your own due diligence and shop around.

Please note, I try my best to keep the information of each service up-to-date, but you should read the T&C's from their website for the most up-to-date and accurate information.

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…