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What does home insurance cover?

The situations covered by your home insurance will vary depending on the insurer you choose and the level of cover you opt for. However, the best policies generally provide cover against the following:

• Fire. If your home and/or contents are lost or damaged due to fire.
• Storm. Loss or damage caused by a storm, including violent winds, hail, snow, rain, thunderstorms, fallen trees or branches.
• Lightning. Loss or damage caused by lightning, or by a power surge caused by lightning.
• Flood. Protects you against loss or damage caused by water that has escaped the normal confines of a lake, river, or a number of other bodies of water. Some home insurance policies only offer flood cover as an option, not as an automatic inclusion, so make sure you check your policy documents.
• Earthquakes. This benefit ensures that you are covered against loss or damage caused by an earthquake.
• Water and oil leaks. When water or oil escapes from gutters, pipes, baths, toilets, appliances or a range of other household items, home insurance covers you for the resulting loss or damage.
• Theft or burglary. Covers you against loss or damage caused by theft, attempted theft or burglary.
• Malicious acts and vandalism. If your home or contents are damaged due to vandalism or a malicious act, your policy will cover you.
• Riots or civil commotion. Financial protection in the event that a riot, civil commotion, or industrial or political disturbance results in loss or damage to your home.
• Explosion. Loss or damage caused by an explosion, as well as a landslide or subsidence that occurs as an immediate result of an explosion.
• Impact damage. This benefit covers you against impact from objects such as falling trees, power poles, TV antennas, motor vehicles and meteorites.

How can I find the right cover for my home?

• Know your cover needs. Before you start shopping for a policy, think about the risks you want to cover and the level of protection you need. Once you’re clear on the type of home insurance you’re after, you can start looking for the right policy.
• Read the policy docs. Don’t wait until it’s time to make a claim to check your policy documents, read them before you buy the policy. This will allow you to determine exactly what the policy includes, how much protection it offers, and under what circumstances cover would not be provided.
• Ask for recommendations. Check out online reviews and ask friends and family for their home insurance recommendations. Hearing from people who have actually had to make a claim on their policy is a great way to sort the strong policies and insurers from the weaker ones.
• Compare. Last but definitely not least, don’t settle for the first policy you find. Instead you should compare the benefits, cost, features and exclusions of a wide range of policies to work out which option provides the best value for money.

Find out how you can cut costs on your home insurance.

Common home insurance traps to avoid

It is important to watch out for these common traps when choosing cover:

• Underinsurance. Don’t be tempted to skimp on cover just so you can slightly lower your premiums. Make sure any policy you select provides adequate cover for you to completely rebuild your home and replace all your belongings.
• Paying for cover you don’t need. Before adding any extra-cost options to your policy, make sure you actually need them. Ask yourself is it something you could survive without?
• Renewing without reviewing. Don’t simply pay your annual home insurance renewal when it arrives each year. Insurers are always competing for more business and offering attractive savings to new customers. It’s worth shopping around to see if you can find the same or better cover at a more affordable price.
• Cover limits. Make sure you check the maximum limit to which an insurer is willing to cover any single item. For example, while your engagement ring may be worth £15,000, your insurer may only provide up to £3,000 cover for jewellery.

What are the different types of home insurance?

There are a few different types of home insurance policies out there, so you will need to decide which one is the right one for you. Below are examples of some of the types of home insurance you can find cover for:

Buildings insurance

Building insurance protects the brick and mortar structure of the home from things like fire and flood.

Contents insurance

Contents insurance covers the items in your home, from TVs and computers, to furniture, clothing and jewellery.

Landlord insurance

Landlord insurance covers against damage to your property and possessions, loss of rental income and protect you if someone is injured on your property.

Tenants insurance

Tenants insurance covers loss or damage to your possessions, but can also cover any accidental damage you may cause to the rental property.

Holiday home insurance

Houses that are unoccupied for long periods of time will not be covered under regular home insurance. Holiday home insurance will give you peace of mind when it comes to protecting your getaway.

Our 2020 customer satisfaction league table

We asked policy holders to rate their satisfaction with their insurance company, and whether they’d recommend it to a friend. We’ve shown both for each brand in the table below. Our independent survey of 750 insurance customers was carried out in December 2019.

Overall satisfaction	Customers who’d recommend	Issuer	Review
★★★★★	81%		Tesco Bank is not only the largest supermarket chain in the UK, but also the winner in our home insurance category. Customers in our survey told us they love the great service and the fact you can earn extra Clubcard points with your premiums.	View deals
★★★★★	78%		Our second place goes to another ‘largest’ – Aviva, the largest general insurer in the UK. There are three levels of cover to choose from here and the company is trustworthy, reliable and easy to deal with, according to customers.	View deals
★★★★★	78%		Churchill and its nodding dog offer standard home cover, as well as a premium policy with some extra benefits. Customers surveyed praised the competitive rates and good levels of service.	View deals
★★★★★	76%		Popular high-street bank Halifax offers two levels of cover – Limit and Ultimate Limit. It also offers Renters insurance with a good range of benefits. Customers praised the great customer service, both online and in branch.	View deals
★★★★★	75%		Direct Line has three levels of home insurance cover to choose from, including its Select Premier policy, which features unlimited contents and building cover. Customers in our survey reported reasonable prices and a good service.	View deals
★★★★★	71%		With two levels of cover to choose from – Home and Home Plus, and a flexible approach to contents insurance, LV= is a strong option for home insurance. LV= customers praised the good value of the cover on offer, as well as the efficient service and claim handling process.	View deals
★★★★★	66%		Saga is a specialist insurer catering to the over-50s market, offering two levels of home insurance cover. The policy can be tailored to your needs and customers praised its good value and ease of application.	View deals
★★★★★	66%		AXA has three levels of home insurance cover – HomeSmart, HomeSure and HomeSafe. The benefits offered differ with each level, but customers in our survey reported competitive prices and a great service across the board.	View deals
★★★★★	68%		Another over-50s specialist that is open to customers of all ages, Age Co (formerly Age UK) only has one level of home insurance cover, but it’s a decent one. The policy comes with the extra benefit of access to 24/7 legal advice and a free identity theft advice line.	View deals
★★★★★	64%		Admiral has three levels of home insurance available, with the Basic one being pretty limited, but the Platinum policy offering very comprehensive cover. Customers surveyed said they were satisfied with the levels of cover and service offered by the company.	View deals

Frequently asked questions

Purchasing your policy

• Why do I need home insurance?

  Home insurance is something every homeowner should consider buying. It offers crucial financial protection for your home and important possessions. It can protect you against everything from fire and storm damage to burst pipes, falling trees, theft and vandalism.

  If you’re not quite yet sure whether to take out home insurance take a moment to think about how you would cope financially if your home and everything you own was completely destroyed. Sure, it’s a worst-case scenario and one that you’ll hopefully never have to deal with, but would you have the financial means to start again from scratch following an unexpected disaster?

  • Protection for your home. Your home is usually the most expensive thing you’ll ever buy and therefore the most valuable asset you’ll ever own. Home insurance provides a level of protection for your home should certain unexpected disasters strike. It means that in the event of damages or loss you’ll be able to claim to repair or restore your home.
  • Mortgage Requirement. Most mortgage lenders require you to have at least buildings home insurance in order to approve your application.
  • Peace of mind. The biggest benefit of home insurance is the reassurance it provides. With the right policy in place you can relax knowing that you will have the financial support you need should loss, damage or some other unexpected misfortune affect your home or contents.
  • Protection for your possessions. The possessions within your home are much more than just stuff; they’re often your most important and treasured belongings, and can hold just as much sentimental value as they do financial worth. Contents insurance ensures that you will be able to repair or replace your possessions if they’re damaged by fire, storm, theft or a range of other insured events. This type of insurance usually available as standalone cover or as part of a combined home and contents policy.

• When do I need home insurance?

  It’s not compulsory to get home insurance, but it’s still important to cover your home and belongings. Even if you’re renting, you can still get tenant’s insurance to protect your belongings and cover you against any accidental damage to the rental property.

• How often do I need to pay home insurance?

  Most home insurance policies will let you pay your premium on a monthly or yearly basis. While it may be tempting to choose a monthly premium, it will generally be cheaper to pay your insurance premium once a year.

• Can I insure multiple properties?

  Yes, you are free to insure more than one property, and it may be a good idea to get insurance policies for each of the houses you own or occupy.

• How much will I be covered for?

  When you purchase a home insurance policy, you are generally able to set the sum insured, which is the total amount you would be covered for in the event your house or possessions are destroyed or need to be repaired.

  It’s important that your sum insured amount is high enough to cover the likely cost of rebuilding your home or replacing your items, as you will otherwise be required to make up the difference using your own savings. Specific types of claims, such as key and lock replacement, will also have individual cover limits.

Choosing the right option

• How much is home insurance?

  The average cost of home insurance in the UK is around £13.60 per month for combined buildings and contents insurance. However, the cost of your policy may differ based on the type and level of cover you require, as well as the age, size and location of your house.

• Who offers the best home insurance?

  This depends on a range of factors, so it’s important you understand your specific needs and budget before deciding on a certain provider. You should always compare a range of options and policies to find the home insurance that’s best for your needs.

• Do I need both buildings and contents insurance?

  Not necessarily. If you’re an owner-occupier then it may be worth getting cover for both your house and possessions, but if you’re renting, you may only want insurance to protect your belongings. If you’re a landlord, you can get specialised insurance that covers your building and contents, as well as protects you from loss of rental income.

Adjusting your policy

• Do I need to cancel my home insurance when moving house?

  Some insurers will let you transfer your existing insurance when you move, but they will also likely adjust your premiums based on your new location and the type of house you move to. If this isn’t possible, you may need to cancel your existing policy and take out another one to cover your new residence.

• Can I change my policy?

  Yes, you should be able to adjust or change your policy to provide a different level of cover. If you insurance needs change, or in the case you’re performing renovations, you may also need to update your policy. Cancelling or changing a policy may also incur a fee, but this depends on your provider.

• Am I still covered if I cancel my home insurance policy?

  No, you will no longer be covered once you cancel your policy. If you have already paid your yearly premium, you will be refunded for the period you didn’t use, minus fees, but will not be covered for the rest of the year.

Making a claim

• How do I claim on my home insurance?

  Most providers will let you lodge a claim online or via phone. You will generally need to provide your policy number and details of the claim. It’s also a good idea to keep a record of the damage caused, as well as any receipts or invoices for things that are damaged.

• How long do home insurance claims take?

  Many insurance claims can be settled within a couple of days, at which time you should receive your insurance payout. More complex claims may require that someone from the insurance company inspect your house before approving your claim. They may also need to call in a specialist to check the extent of the damage, which can delay the approval process.

• What happens if my house is destroyed or uninhabitable?

  Many home insurance policies offer alternative accommodation cover, which means it will pay for you to find somewhere to stay while your house is being rebuilt or repaired.