HOME INSURANCE

Home Insurance

Your home is where you feel most relaxed and comfortable, which is why finding the right insurance cover to protect it is essential.  

With over 20 years of experience in insurance, our friendly team of experts can compare policies and guide you every step towards getting your home insured in minutes. 

What is home insurance? 

Your house is more than just your home sweet home, it’s the investment you want to protect after all the hassle of climbing up the property ladder. Home insurance protects your property and the belongings inside against damages or losses. Some policies can also provide liability coverage if accidents occur on home premises. 

Why do I need home insurance? 

Even though it is not a legal requirement, having a home insurance policy in place will give you peace of mind knowing that you are financially protected in case of any unexpected events. Additionally, your mortgage lender might insist that you get home insurance as a condition of the loan to protect their investment in the property. 

 It can provide temporary repairs to stop an emergency when the worst happens. For example, home emergency cover, also known as home emergency assistance, is a common add-on applied to home insurance to cover more sudden or urgent issues that affect your home. 

Some policies also cover the cost of repairing or rebuilding your home if it is damaged or destroyed by a covered event, such as a fire or natural disaster, as well as replacing your personal belongings if they are lost, stolen, or damaged.  

It is important to carefully review the terms of a home insurance policy to understand what types of events and damages are covered, as they will vary depending on your insurer, policy, and property. 

Things to consider before getting a quote 

Before getting a home insurance quote, you must consider precisely what levels of protection you need. It is important to factor in the following: 

Rebuild cost 

When taking out home insurance, it’s easy to under or overestimate the cost. Remember, this does not include the price of purchasing the land but just the materials (bricks and mortar) to rebuild your property. 

Valuables and their worth 

When looking for contents insurance cover, always make sure that valuables such as engagement rings, watches, sports equipment and high-value electronic equipment are named on your policy and that the cover is high enough to protect them. 

We recommend going through each room in your house and noting the cost of each item before totalling up the amount. You may be surprised at the value and how having the correct home insurance could save you money if these are damaged.   

Excess 

It’s worth considering how much you could afford to pay if you make a claim on your household insurance. A higher excess can often save you money on your premium, although it could be a barrier to making claims for low amounts. 

Cover outside the home 

It’s worth checking that your home insurance policy will also cover any items you carry with you. Similarly, you should check that items stored in outbuildings, such as sheds or garages, are also protected by your insurance. 

Do you need home insurance when renting? 

Building insurance will almost always be your landlord’s responsibility if you’re renting a home.  

Of course, you’ll be expected to look after your rental property, but it’s your landlord’s responsibility to keep up with regular maintenance and fix any issues that come up with essentials like the plumbing or heating. This also means ensuring it’s protected against any damage resulting from events like storms, flooding, or fire. 

Buildings insurance covers the structure of your rented property, such as the roof and building exterior, internal fittings and fixtures, and central heating.  

Even though home insurance isn’t compulsory if you rent your home, there is still an argument for having some contents cover in place to protect your belongings. A good home contents insurance policy will cover your possessions, such as furniture that’s yours, through to your clothes, gadgets, jewellery, books, musical instruments or sporting equipment, if there’s a break-in or if they’re damaged in a disaster like a flood or a fire.  

How much is home insurance? 

Explore your home insurance options and find out how much you can save by chatting with our team of insurance experts. Call us on 0800 0815 030, so we can answer your questions and give you a home insurance quote in just a few minutes.