Home insurance warning for landlords

Landlords have been warned of the danger of not taking out the right home insurance to protect them from water damage .

As recent weather conditions have shown, cold snaps can leader to boiler problems, burst water pipes and damaged roofs.

Redbricks Landlords Insurance says that, although regular home insurance will cover landlords for any damage to their property, it will not necessarily protect their income from rentals.

The company's managing director Tony Armitage said: Water can cause as much damage as a serious fire, and the speed with which it can cause complete devastation is remarkable.

When landlords are operating on tight margins, this can make the difference between a profitable and loss making year.

Redbricks itself offers products that cover rental income as well as the cost of providing alternative accommodation for tenants.

A report by the National Landlords Association recently suggested that many home insurance policies were being rendered invalid because tenants were engaging in illegal activities, such as growing cannabis, within the properties .