Commercial property insurance might seem fairly similar to landlord insurance, but there are significant differences between the two. This includes things like the way the building is constructed, the type of tenant you let to, whether your tenants run a business from your property, and the type of business they run.
Landlord insurance is a fairly simple insurance, covering you when a tenant rents your property. You’d be protected against property damage, legal issues, public liability, and accidental damage caused by tenants. However, when your tenant is using your building to run a business, there’s a different risk profile.
This is where commercial property insurance comes in, as it’s designed for businesses owning or letting physical spaces like warehouses, offices, factories, or shops. There’s cover for potential losses or damages to the space, and other physical assets like stock, but it can also cover concerns such as volume of staff, or the heating and electrics of the building. The specific needs of the building are also taken into consideration in conjunction with the business itself - for example, if you’re operating a blacksmiths in a wooden building with a thatched roof, your insurance premium would reflect the high likelihood of a fire.
These things can influence the cost and complexity of your commercial property insurance, so it’s important that you do your research and evaluate the risks associated with the business’ assets, location, premises, and industry. It’s also expected that as the business grows or evolves, you check the insurance still holds the cover you need.