6 inquiries to ask earlier than you select a house insurance coverage coverage

House insurance coverage premiums rose by 14% year-on-year between October and December 2024, in response to analysis by Examine the Market.

With costs climbing and insurance policies various considerably, getting the best cowl is important. Too little insurance coverage may depart you out of pocket if it’s essential declare, whereas paying for canopy you don’t want is cash wasted.   

Right here, we define six key questions it is best to ask earlier than selecting a coverage.

1. Do I want buildings insurance coverage?

House insurance coverage is normally cut up into buildings and contents insurance coverage. Buildings insurance coverage protects the construction of your house, whereas contents insurance coverage covers your belongings.

For those who personal your house, buildings insurance coverage is extra prone to be a necessary than a ‘nice-to-have’.

Mortgage lenders usually require it from the date of change, and even should you personal your house outright, take into account how a lot it could price to rebuild if the worst occurred. 

With out insurance coverage, you’d must cowl the complete quantity your self, which may run into lots of of hundreds of kilos.

Not everybody wants their very own coverage. For those who reside in a block of flats, the constructing might already be insured and your contribution coated by your service cost. For those who hire, your landlord is chargeable for buildings insurance coverage, however you’ll want your personal cowl for private belongings.

• Discover out extra: best buildings insurance

2. Do I want contents insurance coverage?

Contents insurance coverage will not be a authorized requirement, however it may be helpful in case your possessions are misplaced, broken or stolen. It covers every thing from furnishings and garments to electronics and jewelry.

Earlier than shopping for a coverage, take inventory of what you personal. Our contents insurance calculator can assist you estimate the overall worth of your belongings. 

There’s no level paying for £100,000 of canopy in case your possessions are value £10,000, however under-insuring may depart you excessive and dry if it’s essential declare. For those who’re not coated for the complete quantity, your insurer might cut back your payout.

Earlier than signing up, verify if you have already got cowl for some objects, for instance through a packaged checking account. You might also have separate insurance coverage for devices or valuables.

Many insurers provide non-obligatory extras, resembling unintentional harm, house emergency cowl or safety for objects you are taking exterior the house. Some insurance policies additionally embrace pupil cowl, defending a family member’s belongings even whereas they’re away at college. 

• Discover out extra: best contents insurance

3. Does my coverage cowl floods, subsidence or excessive climate? 

Most house insurance coverage insurance policies cowl storms, floods and subsidence, however the particulars fluctuate. 

Buildings insurance coverage normally consists of harm from wind, rain, snow and ice, whereas flood cowl protects in opposition to water coming into your house from heavy rain, excessive tides or rivers bursting their banks. For those who even have contents insurance coverage, your belongings ought to be coated too.

Subsidence cowl is included in most buildings insurance coverage insurance policies however typically comes with the next extra, sometimes round £1,000. Some insurers gained’t cowl harm to patios, backyard partitions or driveways until the primary constructing is affected. If your house has had subsidence earlier than, you might face further circumstances or increased premiums.

Storm harm is roofed, however fences, gates and outbuildings are sometimes excluded. Insurers additionally anticipate householders to take care of their properties, and claims could also be rejected if poor repairs contributed to the harm.

For those who reside in a high-risk flood space, it is best to nonetheless be capable of get cowl by the Flood Re initiative, although properties constructed after 2009 aren’t eligible. Examine your coverage’s exclusions and extra quantities to be sure you’re totally coated if unhealthy climate strikes.

• Discover out extra: does your insurance cover damage caused by bad weather?

4. Do I want unintentional harm cowl?

Unintended harm cowl protects in opposition to surprising mishaps, resembling dropping your laptop computer, spilling purple wine on the carpet or a toddler drawing on the partitions. It covers one-off incidents however gained’t pay for basic put on and tear.

Some house insurance coverage insurance policies embrace restricted unintentional harm cowl for sure objects, resembling TVs, however safety for issues resembling stained carpets or cracked sinks normally prices further. When you have younger youngsters, pets or costly furnishings, this might prevent cash in the long term.

Householders might discover unintentional harm cowl helpful for repairs, particularly for high-value objects or built-in fixtures, whereas landlords can use it to guard in opposition to tenant harm that goes past honest put on and tear. 

For those who’re renting, verify your tenancy settlement. Some contracts make tenants chargeable for unintentional harm to the property’s fixtures and fittings.

Examine your coverage earlier than including unintentional harm cowl, as some insurers embrace it as normal.

• Discover out extra: home insurance add-ons, fees and charges

5. Do I must insure my home whether it is empty?

If your house goes to be empty for greater than 30 consecutive days, you might want a specialist unoccupied house insurance coverage coverage. 

Normal house insurance coverage normally covers your property year-round, however most insurers have a restrict on how lengthy a property may be left empty, sometimes 30 days, although some permit as much as 60.

Insurers see unoccupied properties as the next threat as a result of they’re extra susceptible to break, vandalism or break-ins. In consequence, unoccupied property insurance coverage is commonly costlier than common house insurance coverage.

For those who’re a landlord, your landlord insurance might cowl an empty property for as much as three months between tenants, however this varies. Some insurance policies require further cowl for longer void intervals, so it’s at all times value checking the phrases of your coverage to be sure you’re protected.

• Discover out extra: holiday home insurance

6. Does the insurer provide good customer support and aggressive offers?

Selecting the best supplier is simply as vital as selecting the correct degree of canopy. An excellent insurer will provide clear insurance policies, honest pricing and dependable claims dealing with, whereas a poor one may depart you pissed off once you want assist probably the most.

That will help you discover the most effective supplier, we surveyed almost 1,700 house insurance coverage prospects and reviewed 33 corporations to see how they examine on coverage high quality, worth for cash and claims expertise. Our analysis discovered huge variations between insurers.

To see which house insurance coverage suppliers provide the most effective cowl and repair, learn our information to the best and worst home insurance.