Building and Contents Insurance

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Building insurance covers you for damages to the structure of your home and its fixtures in the event of unforeseen damages.

Contents Insurance covers your personal belongings within your home, like your laptop or engagement ring, from things like floods, fires, or theft. Your insurance company will cover an item’s worth, or replace it completely.

What does contents insurance cover?

If you are wondering what “contents” means in “contents insurance”, here are some examples of things that are covered:

• Laptops, mobile phones and other electronics
• Engagement rings and other jewellery
• Cash and financial documents
• White goods
• Clothes
• Furniture
• Bikes

What kind of circumstances does contents insurance cover under?

Damage or destruction from:

• Water leaks
• Flooding
• Fire
• Storms
• Loss
• Theft

What does building insurance cover?

Building insurance doesn’t cover the contents of your home, but it covers the cost of structural repairs and fixtures:

• Roof
• Walls
• Floor
• Extensions
• Built-in wardrobes
• Fitted kitchens
• Fitted bathrooms

Your insurance company will also put you up in alternative accommodation if you can’t live in your house while they make the reparations.

They’ll even pledge to rebuild your house in its entirety if it is completely destroyed and cover the entire cost of your home.

What kind of circumstances and events does building insurance cover?

• Flooding
• Fire
• Subsidence
• Storms
• Vandalism
• Accidental damage cover

Can you have separate buildings and contents insurance?

You can have separate buildings and contents insurance with different insurance companies if you wish.

You can also have just contents insurance or just building insurance, and don’t have to have both if you don’t want to.

Is it cheaper to get buildings and contents insurance together?

If you get your building and contents insurance from the same insurance company then you could be offered a discount and pay cheaper insurance premiums.

However, it’s worth shopping around with different providers and comparing the insurance quotes for getting separate and combined policies.

You can also tailor your level of cover to your needs and add optional extras so that you get the best value for your insurance quote.

Is it illegal to not have building insurance?

No, it is not illegal to not have building insurance or contents insurance for that matter.

However, many mortgage lenders will require you to take out a building insurance policy to protect your loan from additional risk.

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Do I need building insurance?

You don’t need building insurance if you are:

• A flat owner – your block of flats or apartment building should already have building cover (that you may have to chip in for), so you shouldn’t need individual building insurance
• A tenant – if you’re renting, it isn’t your responsibility to get building insurance

You should consider building insurance if you are a homeowner or landlord.

Although building insurance is not a legal requirement, it protects what is probably your most valuable asset.

Your home usually equates to the majority of your wealth. To leave it unprotected against unpredictable, external factors is very risky.

Your home is also a huge part of your life. When something goes wrong it can be emotionally and physically draining.

A leaky pipe might mean you can’t use the electrics in your house and require you to move out temporarily. Adding the pressure of financial strain and uncertainty to this situation is the last thing you need.

Building insurance not only protects your investment, but also gives you peace of mind for the financial security of your future.

Do I need contents insurance?

It is not a legal requirement to get contents insurance, but the benefits of personal possessions cover are obvious.

Some of your most prized possessions may be irreplicable for sentimental value, but knowing you’re covered for their financial cost gives you some peace of mind.

In this day and age, our dependence on our mobile phones and laptops is greater than ever.

If something happens to your phone, you want to get back up and running as soon as possible. You don’t want to worry about the financial burden that might get in the way.

Remember, you could get cheaper contents insurance quotes by making your home more secure. For example, changing the types of locks on your house or fitting a security alarm.

If you are a landlord, you’ll need landlord insurance instead of standard contents insurance.

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