Every home deserves the right protection, and maisonette are no exception. Finding a policy that genuinely fits the way these properties are owned and shared can be tricky, which is where a specialist broker makes the difference.
We arrange combined maisonette insurance that covers the whole building, giving both owners long-term financial security and confidence that the property is properly looked after.
For clients with multiple properties or complex portfolios, we offer specialist Property Portfolio Insurance designed to provide seamless, high-value protection under a single, carefully structured policy.
A maisonette is a self-contained dwelling that forms part of a larger building, usually one of two flats split across two storeys with its own private front door. Each occupant has their own entrance and staircase rather than sharing a communal corridor.
A converted Victorian terrace, for example, may be split into an upper and lower maisonette each with its own entrance. Period houses are frequently converted this way, and maisonettes are also commonly found above shops and on traditional terraces.
Because the building is shared but the flats are separate, the ownership structure brings uniqueproperty insurance considerations, particularly around maintenance responsibilities and shared repairs.
What Is Maisonette Insurance?
Maisonette insurance is a joint policy that covers the entire building rather than each flat individually.
Mainstream insurers rarely offer cover for a single flat within a maisonette because of how repair responsibilities are split under the lease. One flat may be responsible for the roof, while the other looks after the drains, foundations, or external walls. If only one half holds maisonette buildings insurance and a major repair is needed, working out who pays for what becomes a slow and contested process.
Without joint cover, both owners risk waiting months for repairs to begin while liability is disputed. In the worst cases, owners end up funding repairs from scratch out of their own pocket while the dispute runs its course.
Lease contracts often stipulate that leaseholders must have buildings insurance in place, typically requiring a shared block policy with other residents rather than separate individual arrangements. Insurers often prefer to offer joint policies for maisonettes to avoid disputes between neighbours and ensure a smoother claims process when damage occurs to shared areas.
You may be asking, why do insurers insist on a joint policy for a maisonette? The answer is straightforward. Joint cover removes the gaps and overlaps that cause disputes during claims. It ensures the whole structure is treated as one risk, which is exactly how repair work needs to be approached. Unlike standard home insurance, maisonette insurance often includes provisions for communal areas and shared responsibilities, making it essential for all owners to be covered under one policy to avoid delays in claims processing.
We make this easier by invoicing both parties separately under the same policy, so each owner knows where they stand. Maisonette insurance protects the building against fire, flood, storm damage, theft, vandalism, and accidental damage. The detail involved makes this a specialist line that many high-street providers will not write. We work with a trusted panel of underwriters who actively want to cover this kind of risk.
To make things easier we can invoice both parties separately, so you always know where you stand.
Maisonette insurance provides cover for properties against fire, natural perils and accidental damage. This is a specialist type of insurance that is not offered by many insurers as the details of the policy can often be quite complex.
We work with a trusted panel of insurers to provide a joint maisonette insurance policy. We ensure you get the best deal possible, so your property has the level of protection it needs against a wide range of unexpected damage and events.
Maisonette Buildings Insurance for Leasehold and Freehold Properties
The way your property is owned affects exactly which policy structure works best. Most maisonettes fall into one of two ownership types.
The table below helps to clarify which ownership type applies to your situation:
Ownership Type
What It Means
Typical Cover Need
Leasehold
You own the flat for the term of the lease but the freeholder owns the building
Building insurance for leasehold maisonette properties is often arranged by the freeholder, but tenants may need contents and liability cover
Freehold (split)
Two flats each own a share of the freehold
Buildings insurance freehold maisonette policies are usually arranged jointly between the two owners
Share of freehold
A company structure holds the freehold, with each flat owning a share
Joint building insurance is the most common route, often arranged through a specialist broker
Because of these variations, building insurance for leasehold maisonette properties differs in subtle but important ways from a standard maisonette insurance policy. Where a maisonette has been purchased as a leasehold property, the freeholder may already hold buildings cover. Lease terms often dictate who must arrange cover, the minimum sum insured, and the named beneficiaries.
We always recommend reading the lease carefully before agreeing to any policy. Once you have reviewed the lease, we can proceed with finding the most suitable policy structure for your situation. If you are unable to contact the management company directly, a specialist broker can help you navigate the process and establish what cover is already in place.
Where a management company is in place, they will often arrange one policy covering the whole block, with service charge contributions from each leaseholder. We will help you find a policy that is best suited to your ownership type and lease terms.
Do I Need Maisonette Building Insurance?
If you own or part-own a maisonette, the short answer is yes. Fire, flood, escape of water, and accidental damage can happen at any time, and the cost of putting things right without insurance can be considerable.
For those who hold a maisonette as an investment, having the right buildings cover in place also protects the long-term value of the asset.
Most lenders also require maisonette home insurance to be in place before they will release a mortgage or remortgage on the property.
It is worth noting that buildings cover typically protects the structure shared between both owners, while contents insurance remains the individual responsibility of each leaseholder, covering personal belongings within their own flat. If you rent your individual flat rather than own it, you should still arrange your own contents cover regardless of what the freeholder holds. Council tenants should check with their local authority, as the council often arranges buildings cover while tenants are responsible for their own contents insurance.
Speak to our team for a tailored maisonette insurance quote and we will guide you through the options.
What Does Maisonette Buildings Insurance Cover?
Cover varies by insurer, but a comprehensive maisonette buildings insurance policy will typically include:
The full building structure including walls, roof, floors, and foundations
Home emergency cover, which can be included as an optional extension to protect against urgent situations such as boiler failure or burst pipes affecting the shared building.
Permanent fixtures such as fitted kitchens and bathrooms
Outbuildings, boundary walls, fences, and patios where included
Alternative accommodation if the property becomes uninhabitable after an insured event.
Property owners’ liability for injury or damage to third parties
Why Choose Horner Blakey for Maisonette Insurance?
We are an independent insurance broker with deep experience in flat insurance and split-property risks. Our team understands the practical headaches that come with shared buildings, from coordinating renewals between two owners to handling claims that affect both flats at once.
If you have any concerns about how your property is structured or covered, our team is on hand to help. We respond quickly when claims arise, helping both owners navigate the process without unnecessary delays.
Whether you need straightforward insurance, full joint building insurance for converted period properties, or specialist insurance for leasehold flats, we can match you with the right underwriter.
We help clients arrange buildings insurance freehold maisonette policies, and we also work with property investors and landlords who hold portfolios of insurance for leasehold flats and split-freehold properties. We provide independent advice and access to a specialist market that most policyholders cannot reach alone.
Get a Maisonette Insurance Quote
The right cover protects both flats, both owners, and the building they share. We arrange policies that reflect how maisonettes actually work in practice, not how an off-the-shelf policy thinks they should.
Talk to our team today or a tailored quote on your maisonette insurance. You will speak with a person who understands split-property risks, not a call centre.
