Tenants' contents insurance broker
Help renters find contents and liability cover, working from home and earning commission on each policy you arrange.
- £500-4k
- Part-time
- From home
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
8,071 UK companies in this field, 19% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 66220 “Activities of insurance agents and brokers”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
You help tenants find insurance for their belongings and personal liability. Most people start as an appointed representative of an FCA-authorised broker or network, so you can trade under their permissions. You find the customers, explain the options and place the cover.
Your first three steps
- Research FCA-authorised brokers and networks that take on appointed representatives for general insurance, and compare their fees and commission splits
- Check the FCA register and ask each network what training, compliance checks and approvals you would need before you can sell
- List local letting agents, student landlords and property managers, and prepare a short pitch for becoming a referral partner
Who pays
Tenants in private rentals, students and house-sharers. The insurer pays you commission, so the customer pays only the premium. Letting agents and landlords can also refer tenants to you.
How it makes money
You earn commission from the insurer or your network on each policy sold or renewed. Individual policies are small, so income depends on steady referrals from letting agents, student accommodation and online search.
Skills that help
- Clear, honest explanation of insurance cover
- Building relationships with letting agents
- Careful record keeping and following compliance rules
- Basic website and online marketing
Watch out for
- Selling or advising on insurance is FCA regulated in the UK. Check whether you need to be authorised or can work as an appointed representative before you take any customers
- Check what the network charges, such as monthly fees, compliance costs and any share of your commission
- Professional indemnity insurance may be needed. Check whether your network provides it or whether you must arrange it yourself
- Data protection (UK GDPR) applies because you will hold customers' personal details. Check whether you need to register with the ICO
- Commission per policy is modest and can take months to build, so don't rely on it for your main income straight away
- Treating customers fairly and giving clear information is a regulatory duty, and mistakes can lead to complaints
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: tenants' contents insurance broker
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start as a tenants' insurance broker?
Startup costs are typically around £500 to £4,000, depending on your network's fees, compliance costs, insurance and marketing. These are estimates, so check what the network charges, including monthly fees and any share of your commission.
How much can a tenants' insurance broker earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around £200 to £2,500, depending on how many policies you place. Commission per policy is modest and can take months to build, so don't rely on it for your main income straight away.
Do I need FCA authorisation to sell tenants' insurance?
Selling or advising on insurance is FCA regulated, so check whether you need to be authorised or can work as an appointed representative before taking any customers. Also check professional indemnity cover and whether UK GDPR means registering with the ICO.
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