From urban car parks and self-build sites to agricultural fields and fishing lakes, land insurance is designed to give landowners financial peace of mind. We explain what it is and answer your questions so you can decide for yourself if you need it.

What is land insurance?

Land insurance is a specialist insurance policy designed for anyone who owns land that does not have a commercial or residential property on it. For example:

• Car parks
• Undeveloped land
• Fields, especially if you have a footpath or bridleway running through it
• Woodlands
• A development plot
• Private roads
• Vacant land (land with no structures)
• Land with structures. For example a bridge or barn
• Land used for hunting
• Self-build land
• Farmland
• Moorlands
• Sports fields
• Communal gardens

If you share a private access with one or more other landowners, land insurance can cater to multiple parties.

How does land insurance protect me financially?

Land insurance is a form of public liability insurance. It covers you from the costs associated with an injury to a person or damage to property because of something to do with your land. If someone makes a legal claim for compensation against you, your land insurance will cover the legal fees, including any compensation pay-outs.

In our no-win, no-fee world, it’s easier than ever for the public to make a claim against you. Land insurance gives you peace of mind you’re protected financially.

What can go wrong?

Unfortunately, the potential for something to go wrong on your land is almost limitless. This can include slips, trips and falls on your land. Another risk is if a branch from a tree on your land falls onto someone’s car or home. And it’s not just compensation claims that you might want to cover. Land insurance can also cover other things that go wrong. For example, if vandals start a fire and damage crops or a fence.

Does my home insurance already cover my land?

Unless the land is part of your garden, it’s unlikely it will be covered by standard home insurance. It’s also worth noting that even if the land is your garden if it is not directly attached to your property (for example it is on the other side of the road) it may not be included in your home insurance policy. Speak to your insurance broker to be sure.

Am I legally obliged to hold land insurance?

No. There is no legal requirement for you to take out land insurance. However, it may be a condition of your lender if you have purchased the land with a mortgage or loan.

Don’t forget; not taking out land insurance could end up costing you a lot more in the long run.

What happens if someone makes a compensation claim against me and I don’t have land insurance?

If you don’t have land insurance and someone makes a legal claim against you, you’ll have to pay your own legal fees. This includes solicitor costs to fight your case as well as any compensation payment that is awarded to the other party. Depending on the injury (or if an accident results in death) this can run into the £tens of thousands.

Even if the claim is settled in your favour, you may need to find a substantial amount of money to fight your case.

Do I need land insurance if my land is private property?

A member of the public can still make a personal injury claim against you even if your land is private property and they are trespassing.

What level of liability do I need?

Land insurance typically has a maximum limit of up to £1 million, £5 million or £10 million. The level you need will depend on the potential hazards on your land. For example, if you have a derelict building or water feature on your property, the risk of serious injury is considerably higher than if it is only a meadow.

How do I find the best land insurance?

Like all insurance, it pays to shop around when you are looking for land insurance. You can do this by calling as many different insurance companies as possible to get quotes. Or ask an independent insurance broker, like Easy2Insure to do this for you.

Remember, every piece of land is different and will have a different level of risk. For the best price, look for a tailored policy, which gives you the level of cover that you need without you paying for anything you don’t need.

Do I really need land insurance?

Only you can decide if you need land insurance. But an affordable payment now could save you £thousands in the future and buy you real peace of mind. If you’re still not sure if you need it, have a chat with our expert team, who can give you a free quote so you can see just how affordable land insurance can be.

It’s Easy2 find the best price land insurance

No matter what steps you take to secure your property, accidents can and do happen. Give yourself financial peace of mind when you buy land insurance. The expert team at Easy2Insure understand the unique problems faced by landowners and can help you decide what level of cover is most appropriate. We’re an independent insurance brokerage that is part of the respected Park Insurance group. When you contact us, we’ll shop around and negotiate hard on your behalf to secure you an excellent value-for-money, tailored policy. The result? Land insurance that you can rely on and that will meet your budget. Call us on 0800 917 9522 or get a free quote.

Whether you’re building your new urban dream home or own fields of livestock, land insurance gives you peace of mind. If someone hurts themselves on your private property they can sue you. Land insurance (also known as property owners insurance) covers you financially for any legal costs you may face. But how do you know you’re getting the cover you need at the best price? Our quick guide tells you what you need to know before you buy.

Do I need land insurance?

If you own any pieces of land, it’s worth considering land insurance. That’s because you could be sued by someone if they injure themselves on your property. It’s particularly advisable if you have any public access on your land, for example, there’s a footpath or bridleway.

But even if there is no given public access, land insurance is worth thinking about. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act gives the public the freedom to roam of some private land. And someone can make a financial claim against you even if they are trespassing.

Landowner liability to the public

As the landowner, you are not liable for injury unless you deliberately set out to create risk or are ‘reckless’ about whether a risk is created. However, ‘reckless’ can be hard to define and it is often left to the courts to decide matters. Unfortunately, in our ‘no-win no-fee’ compensation culture, claims for injury are all too frequent and it can be costly to defend your case.

Is land insurance just about protection from being sued?

Land insurance primarily covers you for public liability – so will pay out legal costs if a claim is made against you. But you could also add protection for any items on the land. For example, you could opt for cover that will pay out if items, such as fencing or gates, on the land are damaged or stolen.

What types of land can land insurance cover?

Land insurance can cover any type of land, including land with outbuildings such as barns or hazards like ponds. Your broker, like Easy2Insure, can tailor your land insurance to your specific needs. So whether you’ve got a woodland with a footpath running through it, a private car park, or a building plot, you can get the right level of cover for your individual needs.

Multiple or single party land insurance policies

If you live in a property with a shared access driveway, you may want to consider taking out a multiple-party land insurance policy. Speak to your broker for more details.

How much will land insurance cost?

This figure will vary depending on the location, the potential hazards on the land, access, and the size of the area.

How do I get cheap land insurance?

The old adage goes you get what you pay. Generally the more you spend, the greater peace of mind you’ll buy. Whilst you should never skimp on any insurance, you can save yourself money by shopping around for the best value deal, or asking a broker to do this for you. You can also save cash on your premium by opting for higher excesses. Or it could be appropriate to reduce the indemnity (the maximum amount that is paid out for a claim) if your land is lower risk. Always ask your broker first for expert advice on if this could be relevant for your situation.

Choosing the right land insurance broker

At Easy2Insure we have 30 years experience arranging specialist land insurance policies for people like you. Our expert advisers can put together a bespoke deal. That will give you the level of cover that you need at the best price. For more details call 0800 9179522 or get a quote.

From building plots and fields to private roads, you’re liable if something goes wrong on any land you own. Land Insurance gives you peace of mind that you’re financially protected from claims against you. We answer your top questions so you can find out if you need it, what it covers, and how to get the best price.

Why do I need land insurance?

If someone hurts themselves, or damages their property, on your land they can sue you. Land insurance is a sort of public liability insurance that pays your legal fees, and any compensation awarded, if that happens. As solicitor costs and pay-outs can be very expensive, land insurance is an essential for financial peace of mind for most people who own pieces of land.

Is land owners insurance a legal requirement?

No. Land insurance is not a legal requirement. But considering the potential costs if something unforeseen does happen, it is considered prudent by most land owners.

What sort of land can be covered by land insurance?

Land insurance covers ‘vacant’ land. Even if this land is adjacent to other land you own, if it has a separate title it is likely it will need insuring separately. You can check boundaries here. The sorts of land that can be covered by land insurance includes:

• Fields with or without public rights of way
• Building plots (single or large-scale)
• Woodland
• Land with water, including rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes
• Derelict buildings
• Private roads
• Car parks

Do I need land insurance for my garden?

No. Land insurance is a type of insurance devised for land where there is no dwelling. Your home insurance will normally cover you for any claims of damages brought against you for accidents that happen in your garden as long as it does not hold a separate title to your property.

Can a claim be brought against me by someone who is trespassing?

Yes. Trespassing is considered a civil wrong, not a criminal offence. Landowners have a duty of care to take reasonable steps to protect members of the public from potential dangers on their land. This includes trespassers. For example, if you leave chemicals within reach and a child who is trespassing accesses them, you could be held liable for damages. In today’s ‘no-win, no-fee’ culture, it is very easy for claims to be brought against you. Even if you are found at no fault, the legal fees to get to that point can mount up substantially.

I’ve got a footpath on my land – can land insurance cover that?

Yes. Even if you’ve got public access running through your land, you can find land insurance to cover your liabilities.

We are a group of owners with a shared, private road access to our properties. What can we do?

Your land insurance policy can be adapted to cater for multiple parties on a single policy to protect private roads.

I have a derelict building on the land. Is that covered?

A run-down structure can pose an increased risk. Although the building itself may have no real financial value, if you have one on your land you will need to specify it.

Can anything else be covered by land insurance?

Yes. As well as protecting your public liability, land insurance can also protect you financially from damage that could occur on your land caused accidentally or by straying animals. This can include things like broken gates or fences.

How much will land insurance cost?

This depends on the size, location and type of land you want to insure. For example, costs will be higher if there is public access or risky features such as water or building work on the site. It will also be higher if the land is in a city compared to a remote part of the country. Get in touch for a free quote.

How do I get the best value premium for my land insurance?

• Increase the excess. Higher excesses generally mean lower premiums. Just be careful not to opt for too high an excess
• Limit the indemnity. The indemnity is the maximum limit that can be paid out – for example, £1million, £5million or £10million. Depending on the level of risk your land could pose, you can select the level most appropriate to you. Just be careful not to opt too low or it could cost you big in the long run.
• Shop around for the best value deal. Land insurance is a specialist insurance, and you’ll find some insurance companies

Call Easy2Insure for expert advice and a free quote on your land insurance

Our expert land insurance team at Easy2Insure has 30 years of experience helping people to find competitive insurance with no nasty surprises in the small print. Tell us about the land you have and we’ll use our expertise to identify all the potential risks you’ll face. We’re an independent insurance broker, so we’re free to shop around and negotiate the best deal on your behalf. We know where to look to get the best deals and we know the questions to ask to make sure you’re land insurance cover is water-tight. Call us now on 0800 917 9522 or get in touch using the form below