Home insurance

What is home insurance? 

Home insurance tends to fall into two categories:

  • Buildings Insurance – Covers the structure of your home and any permanent fixtures and fittings, such as fitted kitchen units and bathroom suites, if they are damaged or destroyed.
  • Contents Insurance – Covers the cost of replacing or repairing your possessions if they are damaged, destroyed or stolen. 

You can buy buildings and contents insurance separately or as a combined policy. Combined policies often include a discount for buying together and it can help make life easier if you have to claim.  

Buildings and Contents policies also usually cover some of your legal responsibilities, for example it may cover you if you have a dispute at work, or with your neighbour. Your contents policy may also provide  cover for you and members of your household when away from the home. Your policy may also cover items such as mobile phones, laptops and jewellery away from the home as standard or as an add-on.  Check your policy to see what’s covered, or speak to your insurer.

Home insurance covers you against damage caused by a variety of perils, such as: 

  • Flooding 
  • Subsidence 
  • Fire 
  • Storms 
  • Burst pipes and water damage, including frozen pipes 
  • Theft 

What type of property insurance do you need? 

If you are a mortgage holder:

    • If you have a mortgage most providers will insist you take out buildings insurance as part of the conditions of your loan. This doesn't have to be with your lender and it may be that you'll get a better deal using a different company.

If you own your property outright:

    • Even if you have already paid for your home you should still consider buildings insurance to protect against the cost of repairs or rebuilding. 

If you are a tenant/rent your property:

    • If you have a rented property, buildings insurance is your landlord’s responsibility., however contents insurance for your own possessions will be your responsibility. 

If you are a student:

    • If you are a student, it may be possible for your parents’ home insurance policy to be extended to cover possessions at university, or, there may be an insurance cover already in place in student halls.

Quotes and Further Information

We are able to give you further information on policies that will suit your circumstances and will ask you a few questions about the cover that you want and need in place. We'll give you a quote inclusive of items of value including jewellery, art work and any other personal items that are special to you. 

Of course, many people are very comfortable setting up this type of policy themselves, if you'd like a quote from several different companies, without credit checks being done please click on the link below - this will take you to Source Insurance who will provide you with information on the polices and costs.  

Get/Retrieve Quote

If you're an existing policy holder and need to retrieve your documents please use the link below:

My Policy

You'll need the details you used to register the policy.

Contact your home insurance provider as soon as possible if your home or possessions are damaged or destroyed and you need to make a claim. Most insurers run 24-hour claims helplines – you should make a note of this number and keep it somewhere safe.