Home insurance: Cover for the place you come home to.

Buildings, contents or both, from brokers who arrange home cover for ordinary houses and the ones that need a specialist.

Buildings and contents
Non-standard homes quoted too
No obligation

Check what you need

What home insurance can cover

Standard homes, flats, listed buildings, thatched roofs, flood-risk postcodes and homes with previous claims. Tell us and the brokers quote accordingly.

Buildings
Contents
Combined buildings and contents
Accidental damage
Non-standard construction
Landlord and let property
High-value contents

Is home insurance a legal requirement in the UK?

No. There is no law that says you must insure your home or its contents. But if you have a mortgage, your lender will usually make buildings insurance a condition of the loan. Landlords and leaseholders may also have buildings cover arranged for them, so check before you buy twice.

In a flat, the buildings are often insured by the freeholder or managing agent, with the cost passed on in your service charge. You would then only need contents cover for your own belongings.

Tenants don't insure the building. That is the landlord's job. Your own belongings are your responsibility, so contents cover is worth looking at.

What is the difference between buildings and contents insurance?

Buildings insurance covers the structure: walls, roof, floors and permanent fixtures such as fitted kitchens and bathrooms. Contents insurance covers your belongings, the things you would take with you if you moved. You can buy either one on its own or both together as a combined policy.

Cover	What it protects	Who usually needs it
Buildings	The structure and permanent fixtures	Homeowners, especially with a mortgage
Contents	Furniture, electricals, clothes and belongings	Owners and tenants
Combined	Both in one policy	Owners who want one renewal date

What does home insurance usually cover, and what does it leave out?

Most policies cover damage from events such as fire, flood, storm, escape of water, theft and subsidence. Accidental damage is often an optional extra. Wear and tear, gradual damage, poor maintenance and pests are commonly excluded, so read the policy wording rather than assuming.

Many policies have rules about leaving the home empty. If you will be away for an extended period, tell the insurer before you go.

Often included: fire, smoke, storm, flood, escape of water, theft, subsidence and alternative accommodation if your home becomes unlivable.
Often optional: accidental damage, personal possessions taken outside the home, legal expenses, home emergency cover.
Commonly excluded: wear and tear, gradual leaks, damp, rot, vermin, and theft where there is no sign of forced entry.

What affects the price of home insurance?

Insurers look at how likely a claim is and how much it could cost. The main factors are where the home is, how it is built, what it would cost to rebuild, the value of your contents, security, and your claims history. The excess you choose and how you pay also play a part.

Location: postcode, flood risk, subsidence risk and local crime.
The property: age, type, construction, roof, and whether it is listed.
Rebuild cost for buildings cover, which is not the same as the market value.
Contents value, and any single items worth a lot.
Security: locks, alarms and whether the home is often empty.
Previous claims, and whether you work from home or let any part of it.

How can I bring down the cost of home insurance?

Start by making sure your sums insured are accurate, then look at security and your excess. Overstating your contents wastes money, and understating them can reduce what you get paid on a claim. A broker can quote a few options so you can compare cover side by side.

Work out your rebuild cost and contents value properly.
Fit good locks to doors and windows, and an alarm if you can.
Consider a higher voluntary excess, but only one you could afford.
Only pay for extras you actually want.
Pay annually if you can. Paying monthly is often a credit agreement and can cost more overall.

What do I need to get a home insurance quote?

Have your address, the type of property, roughly when it was built and how it is constructed. For buildings cover you need an idea of the rebuild cost. For contents, an estimate of what it would cost to replace everything. The broker will also ask about security, claims and anyone living there.

Home insurance questions

What happens after I submit?

Your details go to specialist brokers who deal with home insurance every day. One of them will call you to run through your options and quotes.

Is there any obligation?

None. You can take a quote, ask for changes, or walk away. Nothing is bought until you say so.

Who are the brokers?

UK-based insurance brokers authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Kompare Limited (FCA reference 794660) is an appointed representative of Rainbow Connected Limited (FRN 749881).

How long does it take?

The form takes about two minutes. Brokers usually call back during working hours.

I've been refused cover before. Can you still help?

Possibly. Say so in the form and your details go to brokers who specialise in non-standard and previously declined homes.

Is rebuild cost the same as what my house is worth?

No. Rebuild cost is what it would take to rebuild the property, not what it would sell for. It can be higher or lower than the market value.

Do I need contents insurance if I rent?

It isn't a legal requirement, but your landlord's insurance won't cover your belongings. If you couldn't easily replace them, it is worth considering.

What if my home is listed or has a thatched roof?

Say so in the form. Listed, thatched and non-standard construction homes go to brokers who arrange cover for them.

Does home insurance cover me if I work from home?

Office work at home is often fine, but business equipment, stock or visitors may need extra cover. Tell the broker how you use the home.

Are my things covered when I take them out of the house?

Only if you add personal possessions cover. Standard contents cover is usually for items inside the home.

Written and checked by the Kompare team · Last updated October 2026

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