What Is Malicious Damage Insurance for Landlords?
Malicious damage insurance is an optional add-on to landlord insurance that covers the cost of repairing deliberate damage to your rental property caused by tenants or their guests.
Standard landlord buildings insurance covers events like fire, flood, and storm damage, but it does not cover intentional damage. Without malicious damage cover, you pay for repairs out of your own pocket.
A single incident of deliberate damage can cost thousands of pounds. This cover protects your investment for a relatively small additional premium on your landlord insurance policy.
Malicious damage covers deliberate destruction by tenants or their guests, which most standard landlord policies exclude unless you add it. Intent is what separates it from accidental damage, and insurers will look for evidence of that, so photographs and a police reference matter. Referencing, inspections and proper deposit protection reduce the odds of ever needing it.
Compare landlord insurance quotes with malicious damage cover.
- What is the difference between malicious and accidental damage?
- What does malicious damage cover include?
- What is not covered by malicious damage insurance?
- How much does malicious damage cover cost?
- How do you claim for malicious damage?
- Is malicious damage cover worth it?
- Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between malicious and accidental damage?
Malicious damage involves deliberate intent, while accidental damage results from an unintentional mishap. Insurance companies treat them as separate risks with separate cover options.
Why the distinction matters
Your insurer will investigate the cause of damage before paying a claim. If you claim under malicious damage cover but the insurer decides the damage was accidental, the claim may be redirected to your accidental damage cover or rejected entirely.
Common examples
| Damage type | Example | Covered by |
| Malicious | Tenant punches holes in walls during a dispute | Malicious damage cover (optional add-on) |
| Malicious | Tenant smashes bathroom suite during eviction | Malicious damage cover (optional add-on) |
| Accidental | Tenant drops a heavy object and cracks a floor tile | Accidental damage cover (separate add-on) |
| Accidental | Child’s ball breaks a window pane | Accidental damage cover (separate add-on) |
| Wear and tear | Faded paint, worn carpets, scuffed walls | Not covered by any policy |
What does malicious damage cover include?
Malicious damage cover protects the building structure and permanent fixtures from deliberate damage by tenants or their guests.
Building structure and fixtures
This includes walls, doors, windows, flooring, fitted kitchens, fitted bathrooms, and built-in appliances. Holes in walls, kicked-in doors, smashed windows, and damaged door frames are all covered.
Deliberately broken boilers, damaged wiring, and destroyed kitchen appliances fitted to the property are also included.
Redecoration damage
Graffiti, paint damage, and wallpaper destruction are covered under most policies. Slashed carpets, gouged floorboards, and burned floor coverings also fall within the scope of malicious damage cover on your buildings insurance.
What is not covered by malicious damage insurance?
Malicious damage cover does not extend to moveable contents, damage during void periods, or situations where you failed to follow proper landlord procedures.
Freestanding contents
Furniture, freestanding appliances, and personal items left in the property require separate landlord contents insurance with malicious damage cover. Buildings-based malicious damage only covers permanent fixtures.
Void periods and tenant vetting
Most policies exclude damage that occurs while the property is empty between tenancies. Some insurers also require evidence of tenant referencing, so check your obligations as a private landlord before you let.
If damage occurs during an improper eviction attempt, the insurer may reject the claim. Always follow the correct eviction procedures to protect both your legal position and your insurance cover.
Lack of evidence
The insurer will investigate whether the damage was deliberate. Without photographs, a police report, or witness statements, claims can be disputed or rejected.
How much does malicious damage cover cost?
Malicious damage cover typically adds 10% to 20% to your base landlord insurance premium, or roughly £50 to £300 per year depending on property value, location, and claims history.
What affects the price
Properties in areas with higher claim rates, older buildings, and those let to tenants considered higher risk attract higher premiums. The overall cost of your landlord insurance depends on a combination of these factors plus the level of cover you choose.
Your excess on malicious damage claims is typically £250 to £500, separate from the main buildings insurance excess. A higher excess reduces the premium but means you pay more on each claim.
Cost vs repair bills
Replacing a fitted kitchen after deliberate damage can cost £3,000 to £8,000. A smashed bathroom suite costs £500 to £2,000, and redecorating a heavily damaged property can run to £5,000 or more.
A single incident can exceed several years’ worth of premiums. Even landlords with a no-claims history can face unexpected damage from a relationship breakdown or eviction dispute.
How do you claim for malicious damage?
Report the damage to your insurer as soon as possible, provide photographic evidence and repair quotes, and obtain a police crime reference number if the damage involved a criminal act.
Step-by-step claims process
| Step | Action | Why it matters |
| 1 | Photograph everything from multiple angles before any clean-up | Visual evidence proves the damage was deliberate, not accidental |
| 2 | Report to police if appropriate and obtain a crime reference number | A crime reference strengthens your claim and confirms intent |
| 3 | Notify your insurer with photographs, a description, and tenancy records | Early notification speeds up the assessment and avoids delays |
| 4 | Get at least two repair quotes from contractors | The insurer may compare quotes or send their own surveyor |
| 5 | Do not repair before the insurer has assessed the damage | Repairing early can void the claim if the insurer needs to inspect |
Timeframes and alternatives
Most claims are processed within two to four weeks once documentation is complete. Claims with police reports and clear photographic evidence are typically resolved faster.
You can also pursue the tenant through the county court, but a judgment does not guarantee payment. Your tenancy deposit may cover minor damage, but it is unlikely to cover serious deliberate damage.
Is malicious damage cover worth it?
For most landlords, yes. The annual premium is a fraction of what a single deliberate damage incident could cost in repairs.
When it’s particularly valuable
Landlords who let to tenants considered higher risk, manage properties in areas with higher claim rates, or have experienced tenant disputes in the past benefit most. Even well-referenced tenants can cause damage if circumstances change, which is why most landlord insurance policies offer this as an add-on.
Self-insuring vs cover
Some experienced landlords with large portfolios and strong cash reserves choose to self-insure against malicious damage. For most single-property or small-portfolio landlords, the modest premium provides better protection than relying on savings.
You can also reduce your overall risk by combining malicious damage cover with rent guarantee insurance and loss of rent cover to protect both your property and your income.
How to reduce your risk
Thorough tenant referencing, regular property inspections, and proper deposit protection all reduce the likelihood of a claim. Prevention and insurance work best together.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No. Most standard landlord buildings policies exclude deliberate damage caused by tenants, so you need to add malicious damage cover as an optional extra or choose a policy that includes it.
You can deduct from the tenancy deposit for damage beyond normal wear and tear, but the deposit is capped at five weeks’ rent for most tenancies. Serious deliberate damage will almost certainly exceed the deposit amount.
Most likely, yes. Claims history affects your premium at renewal, and some insurers remove claims-free discounts after a claim.
Yes, provided the eviction followed proper legal procedures under the government’s eviction rules. Having a police report and photographic evidence strengthens the claim.
Typically £250 to £500 per claim, separate from your main buildings insurance excess. A higher excess reduces the premium but increases your out-of-pocket cost per claim.
It depends on the policy, as some cover extends to outbuildings and garden structures while others only cover the main building. Check your policy wording when you choose a provider.