The lease should state who is responsible for arranging and paying for buildings insurance. With most leases, the landlord arranges and pays for buildings insurance but then passes on the costs (or an appropriate proportion, in shared premises) either as part of the service charge or as a separately itemised charge. You can ask to see a copy of the cover to ensure that it is adequate and in line with what you are being charged.
You would usually want to arrange other insurances - for example, to cover contents, and employers' liability insurance. Even where the landlord arranges building insurance, you may want to ensure that your own insurance includes cover for any losses from business interruption caused by problems with the building.
The landlord will usually also insure against loss of rent and, again, will pass on the cost. This means that if the premises are damaged and you are unable to use them, you will not have to pay rent until the damage is repaired.
