Can landlords insure white goods?
When new tenants move in, they usually bring their own belongings. However, landlords often provide white goods like fridges, ovens, and washing machines. When something goes wrong, repairing or replacing these appliances can be costly. Landlords contents insurance can protect you against unexpected bills.
Cover for appliances is not a separate insurance policy but is included as standard with landlords contents insurance.
Landlords contents insurance is typically an optional add-on to standard landlords insurance policies that can protect you when your contents are lost, damaged, or stolen. It doesn’t just cover appliances – landlords contents insurance can extend to the furniture and soft furnishings and audio and visual equipment you provide.
Having appropriate cover can help you manage unexpected costs while running your rental properties.
What appliances are classed as white goods?
White goods are large household appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers, traditionally manufactured with white enamel or painted metal finishes.
Some of the most common types of white goods are:
- Ovens and cookers
- Microwaves
- Refrigerators and freezers
- Washing machines and dryers
- Dishwashers.
Why do landlords need appliance cover?
Landlords insurance is not legally required. (external link) However, landlords insurance with contents cover can help protect you when the appliances you provide in your rental property are lost, damaged, or stolen.
Without cover, landlords might have to pay for unexpected repairs out of pocket. Timely repairs can keep tenants happy and help landlords meet their maintenance obligations outlined in the tenancy agreement.
Who is responsible for white goods?
Responsibility for white goods typically depends on two factors: the tenancy agreement terms and the cause of the issue.
Tenancy agreements typically include check-in inventories, which outline who is responsible for maintaining, repairing, and replacing any items provided, including white goods.
Many tenancy agreements state that the landlord must repair or replace faulty white goods.
Tenants are not responsible for “normal wear and tear (external link)” and insurance does not typically cover it, so if an item is faulty due to gradual deterioration, the landlord might be responsible.
However, it is typically the tenant’s responsibility to take good care of the appliances provided. For example, landlords might have the right to ask tenants to cover the costs of unblocking a washing machine if the blockage was caused by misuse.
Regardless of the terms of the tenancy agreement, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector Regulations 2020 (external link) states that landlords are responsible for ensuring the safety of fixed electrical installations, such as fuse boxes, plug sockets, and wiring.
Although these regulations do not cover electrical appliances like white goods, GOV.UK (external link) advises landlords to perform portable appliance testing (PAT) (external link) on electrical appliances such as cookers and fridges and to provide inspection records to tenants as good practice.1
For more information, you can read our guide to landlord repair obligations.
Get a quote for landlords insurance in minutes
Tell us about your landlord business – we’ll build your quote and explore your insurance needs.
Start your quoteRelated guides & FAQs
What is accidental damage in buildings insurance?
Accidental damage buildings insurance can cover the cost of repairing or replacing the physical structure and fixtures of your property when it’s damaged unintentionally or unexpectedly - learn more in our FAQ guide.
What is landlords liability insurance?
Responsible landlords pride themselves on providing quality housing, but mishaps can happen. Learn more about landlords liability insurance and how it can protect you against significant financial loss if an unexpected incident occurs.
What is malicious damage, and how can landlords protect their property?
You cannot predict malicious damage. However, understanding what it is, how to potentially prevent it, and who is responsible for covering the costs associated with it can help you protect your property. Read more in our FAQ guide.
Disclaimer:
Our FAQ pages provide general information and background around the topic covered. FAQ pages are reviewed and monitored periodically by our insurance experts. But the content is not intended to be read as advice and any material is for general information purposes only. If you would like advice for any content, please seek professional assistance.