Making the Move: Essential Insurance Tips for Land Lease Living

Whether you're downsizing or embracing a more affordable way of living, you need to make sure your home and belongings are properly protected.

Moving into a land lease community is an exciting step toward a more flexible and community-driven lifestyle. However, if you’re moving from a conventional home ownership situation, you’ll quickly notice that insurance for land lease living works differently from standard home insurance. Because you own your home but lease the land, you’ll need a policy that covers your specific risks – without unnecessary extras.

This guide will walk you through the key insurance considerations so you can settle in with confidence.

Why land lease living needs the right insurance

Most standard home insurance policies are designed for properties where the homeowner owns both the land and the building. As this isn’t the case in a land lease community, traditional policies may leave coverage gaps that could put your home and belongings at risk. In some cases, the insurer you’ve trusted for years simply won’t offer you cover for your new home. This not only leaves you frustrated by their lack of understanding but exposed too when you can’t access appropriate insurance.

That’s where a specialist insurer like MHIA comes in. MHIA offers home and contents cover designed specifically for land lease living – so you get the insurance you need without paying for things you don’t.

What insurance do you need? A breakdown for new residents

Home building insurance

Even though you don’t own the land, your home still needs protection. A specialist land lease insurance policy will cover your home against fire, theft, storms and even accidental damage.

Tip: Check if your policy includes relocation costs in case your home needs to be moved or relocated, including after major damage.

Contents insurance

Furniture, electronics, clothing and other belongings should be covered against loss or damage from events like fire, theft or storms. As many land lease communities encourage family and friends to visit – and may even provide visitor spaces and amenities – it’s a good idea to check if your policy includes accidental damage coverage for your guests’ or visitors’ property.

Tip: MHIA covers your guest or visitor’s property up to $750 for a claim arising from the one event.

Legal liability insurance

If someone trips on your deck, falls on your steps or is injured inside your home, you may be responsible. Legal liability insurance covers medical expenses and legal costs if someone is injured on your property.

Tip: Even if your community has liability coverage for shared spaces, you still need your own policy for your home.

Pet injury cover

Our pets are part of the family, so knowing your pampered pooch or curious cat is protected in case of an accident is important. Moving to a land lease community can mean changes in traffic conditions, so having the right cover in place gives you peace of mind.

Tip: An MHIA policy includes vet expense cover if your pet is hit by a motor vehicle. If you want broader coverage for illness or unrelated injuries, a dedicated pet insurance policy may be worth considering.

Why a specialist insurer makes sense

Not all insurers fully understand land lease communities. That’s why choosing MHIA – one of the leading insurers in the land lease community industry – has some clear benefits:

• Affordable tailored coverage – Specialist policies mean you’re covered for land lease-specific risks without unnecessary extras and at a fair price.
• Understanding of community living – A specialist insurer knows how land lease communities work, so they offer relevant and practical insurance policies.
• Better claims support – If something happens, you’ll talk to people who understand land lease homes, making claims smoother and quicker. You can even lodge a claim online.

How to get the right insurance

1. Assess your needs – Make a list of everything you want covered, including your home and contents.
2. Research providers – MHIA specialize in land lease communities and have been providing tailored insurance solutions for over 30 years.
3. Compare land lease insurance policies – Don’t just look at the price – check what’s included, what’s excluded and how much the excess will be if you need to make a claim.
4. Get advice – Not sure what you need? Contact us to chat with a land lease insurance expert.
5. Review your policy regularly – Your needs may change over time, so it’s worth reviewing your policy every year to make sure it’s still the best cover.

Common land lease insurance myths

The community’s insurance covers my home – Community insurance usually only covers shared spaces like clubhouses, pools or gardens – not individual homes or belongings.

Any home insurance policy will do – Many standard home insurance policies don’t fully cover land lease homes. Some insurers don’t cover them at all, meaning you could be left with unexpected gaps in your cover or no cover at all.

Insurance is too expensive – Specialist policies can actually be more affordable than standard home insurance because they only cover what you truly need.

Moving in with confidence

Moving into a land lease community should be a smooth and enjoyable experience. The right insurance helps protect your home, belongings and future, giving you peace of mind as you embrace this new lifestyle.

Once you’ve got your home and contents insurance policies in place, you can focus on enjoying your new home and everything your community has to offer.

Need more information?

Visit MHIA or give us a call for expert advice on specialist land lease home insurance tailored to meet your needs.