Insurance to protect your home could help you avoid an unexpected bill should something go wrong, from damage caused by a storm to a burst water pipe. Read on to find out what you might want to consider when choosing insurance to select the right cover for you.
While you might hope you never need to claim on your building insurance, thousands of homeowners do every year.
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), insurers paid out £1.3 billion in property claims during the third quarter of 2024. These payments helped homeowners cope with unexpected events like a fire and flooding.
The claims were 15% higher than the same period in 2023 due to adverse weather. Indeed, claims for weather damage alone were £90 million. Subsidence claims were also up and totalled £66 million.
The average payout for a single claim was just over £6,000 – a record high and 33% more than a year earlier.
So, what should you consider when searching for insurance? These four questions could help you identify an option that’s right for you.
Do you want to combine buildings and contents insurance?
Most homeowners will take out two forms of insurance to protect their property – building and contents. You can choose to take out insurance that covers both these areas.
Building insurance covers the structure of your home, such as the walls and ceilings, as well as permanent fixtures and fittings, like your kitchen or bath. In some cases, it may also cover garages, greenhouses, or sheds, but this isn’t always the case.
Should you not be able to stay in your home, for example, due to flooding or extensive repairs being carried out, building insurance will often cover temporary accommodation too.
If you have a mortgage on your home, your lender will usually make it a condition of your mortgage that you take out appropriate building insurance.
Contents insurance covers your possessions, from jewellery to furniture.
Combining the two types of insurance could mean you’re able to access a better deal overall and speed up the process of taking out and renewing cover.
What level of cover do you need?
It’s essential that the level of cover you take out is enough to pay for all your costs should you face an emergency. This is the maximum the insurer will pay out. As a result, if you underestimate the cover, you could find you face a shortfall.
Crucially, building insurance should cover the cost of rebuilding your home, not the current market value. So, you might need to do some research to gain an accurate figure. Some insurers may also have a maximum rebuild value, such as £1 million, which could affect if they’re right for you.
If your home is not a standard construction, it may be a good idea to get a surveyor to assess the rebuilding costs.
Would you benefit from additional cover?
Many insurers offer additional forms of cover, which could be useful depending on your circumstances. As a result, you might want to consider if they would offer you peace of mind.
Additional cover might include:
- Accidental damage to the building structure would cover incidents like putting your foot through the ceiling when accessing the loft.
- Legal expenses cover might offer you financial support to pay for legal costs if an accident occurred that wasn’t your fault or you find yourself in a legal dispute with a neighbour.
- Home emergency assistance may cover the cost of tradesmen in some emergency circumstances, such as if you’re boiler breaks down.
Additional cover might mean your insurance premiums are higher, but in some cases, they could be worth the extra expense.
What excess do you want to pay?
When you make an insurance claim, you’ll have to pay an amount towards it, this is known as “excess”. The amount is usually pre-agreed, so you can choose the level of excess before taking out insurance.
Typically, insurance that has a lower excess will have a higher regular premium.
Contact us if you want to talk about your property
As mortgage advisers, we may be able to help find the right insurance for your property when you’re searching for a new mortgage deal. Please contact us to arrange a meeting with our team.
Please note:
This blog is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice, which should be based on your individual circumstances. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
