Hospita rental and your insurance

Renting out a room changes your living situation a little, so it's wise to run through your insurance. Good news: it's usually a matter of one phone call. Here are the main policies to check.

Which insurance to check?

• Contents insurance: tell your insurer you're renting out a room. Not every policy covers damage by residents as standard.
• Building insurance (owned home): if you own your home, also report the room rental to your building insurer.
• Liability insurance: check that it still applies with a tenant in the house. Usually this is no problem.

And your tenant?

Your tenant's belongings are not covered by your insurance. So advise your tenant to take out their own contents and liability insurance. It's not mandatory, but it's sensible.

Why this matters

If you rent out without reporting it and something goes wrong, an insurer can refuse to pay out. One call upfront can save you a lot of money. A reassuring thought: once it's set up properly, you won't have to think about it again.

Want the practical side, with tips per policy? See our detailed article Insurance for hosts.