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Serviced accommodation insurance must match how the home is used. Owners usually need buildings cover that allows short-stay or company let use. Operators need public liability, contents and business cover for guests. Standard home and landlord policies often exclude short stays, so tell your insurer exactly how the home is run.
This is a general guide, not insurance advicePolicies vary widely. Speak to a broker and read your policy wording.
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What insurance does serviced accommodation need?
Serviced accommodation usually needs several types of cover, split between the owner and the operator.
| Cover | What it protects | Usually held by |
|---|---|---|
| Buildings | The structure, fixtures and fittings | Owner |
| Contents | Furniture, appliances and furnishings | Whoever owns them |
| Public liability | Claims from guests or visitors who are injured | Operator, and often owner |
| Loss of income | Lost bookings after an insured event | Whoever earns the income |
| Employers’ liability | Staff such as cleaners, if employed | Operator |
General guide. Check the exact split in your agreement.
Why does disclosure matter?
Insurers price risk on how a home is used. If you do not tell them it is used for short stays or a company let, a claim may be refused.
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Keep safety records and policy documents together. Photo from Pexels.
Who insures what under guaranteed rent?
Under a company lease, the owner usually keeps buildings insurance, and the operator holds public liability and cover for its own contents and business. The lease should state this clearly.
- Esho Stays becomes your tenant under a company lease
- Rent is paid in full every month, even if the property is empty
- We list the home across major booking platforms and our direct network of more than 30 companies
- We handle bookings, guest screening, communication, cleaning and maintenance
- Regular inspections, with cleaning between every stay
- A landlord dashboard showing upcoming bookings and performance
Tips for arranging serviced accommodation insurance
Use a specialist brokerBrokers who handle short-let and company let risks can find cover that fits.
Check the safety conditionsSome policies require working alarms, a fire risk assessment and regular inspections.
Do not rely on platform protectionBooking platform host protection has its own limits and is not a substitute for insurance.
What else should owners check?
Insurance sits alongside mortgage and lease consent. Read our guides to serviced accommodation mortgages and the GOV.UK rules for self-catering homes, which recommend holiday let and public liability cover.
See our serviced accommodation management guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does landlord insurance cover serviced accommodation?
Often not. Many landlord policies cover lets to tenants on tenancies and exclude short stays or business use. Tell your insurer exactly how the home is used, and ask for a policy or endorsement that covers serviced accommodation or a company let.
Do I need public liability insurance for serviced accommodation?
Public liability insurance is strongly recommended, as it covers claims if a guest or visitor is injured. Under a company lease, the operator usually holds it, but owners often keep their own cover too. GOV.UK guidance recommends it for self-catering homes.
What happens if I do not tell my insurer about serviced accommodation?
If you do not disclose short-stay or company let use, the insurer may refuse a claim or cancel the policy, as the risk is different from what you described. Always disclose the use in writing and keep the confirmation.
Is booking platform protection enough?
No. Booking platform host protection programmes have their own limits, exclusions and claims processes. They are not a replacement for buildings, contents and liability insurance that covers how your home is actually used.
Next step
Want clarity on who insures what?
Tell us about your property, and we will explain how insurance works under our company lease.
