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Buildings insurance is one of the few types of home cover you may be required to have, but that doesn't mean you have to accept whatever your mortgage lender offers. Comparing quotes lets you find the right level of cover for your home's rebuild cost, often for less than a lender's own default policy.
Policies also vary on what's excluded, how outbuildings and garden features are treated, and whether accidental damage is included as standard. Comparing helps you avoid gaps in cover that only become obvious when you try to make a claim.
Buildings insurance is often compulsory with a mortgage, but the good news is you’re free to shop around for a home insurance provider that suits your needs - not just what your mortgage provider offers you. We'll help you find a policy that suits your needs.
Comparing buildings insurance quotes rather than accepting your lender's recommended policy is often the easiest way to find better cover for a lower price.
Buildings insurance insures the literal structure of a property against damage. Most policies will also usually cover permanent fixtures like a fitted kitchen or bathrooms. If you need to cover outbuildings, like garages or sheds, you'll often need to add additional cover.
Building insurance will cover the cost of rebuilding or repairing your home should the structure or fittings become damaged. Cover obviously changes between providers, you should be able to claim if your home has suffered:
Vandalism
Subsidence
Fire, smoke and explosions
Water from leaking pipes or from external flooding
Falling trees
Vehicle collisions into your property
Storms and adverse weather
If you’re a homeowner it is highly recommended that you get building insurance. Legally you need it if:
Your home is mortgaged – it’ll usually be a condition of the mortgage
You live in a flat and own the freehold – this could be individually or jointly with other tenants. If you only own the leasehold, it’s usually the landlord’s responsibility
You’re a landlord who rents out property that you own
If you rent your home, you won’t need buildings insurance. But it is probably worth taking out contents insurance just in case.
Remember you can choose whichever provider suits you best. No one can force you to take out insurance with them, and you should carefully consider your options before making a decision.
You should work out first and foremost how much cover you’ll need. This comes down to, how much would it cost to rebuild your home? This amount isn’t the same as the value of your home were you to sell it, but there are plenty of tools to help you. Use the Association of British Insurers’ rebuild calculator – you need to register but it is free to use.
Not all providers will ask for a rebuild sum – some may offer an unlimited sum insured. If this is the case there are likely to be exclusions (things that won’t be covered). Again, carefully check your policy before you make a decision.
Most insurance policies will have exclusions. You should read the policy wording very carefully to avoid having a claim turned down. Make sure you know what is covered and what’s not before choosing your policy.
Garden fences which are damaged in a storm or fitted kitchen appliances, like boilers may not be covered outright. Some policies will cover things like this, but some won’t or will have it as an option extra. It’s very important you know what you're signing up for.
If you have a thatched roof, be very careful about your policy, many providers will not cover thatched roofs as standard. It’s crucial you check this before choosing a provider and policy, standard insurance will be for properties built from bricks with tiled roofs. Make sure that you tell your insurer what materials your home is built from, this will affect things like your premium!
Check that accidental damage is included within your cover. You'll be surprised how many people don't have accidental damage covered within their policy. You don't want to be caught out.
Accidental damage cover includes things like broken windows, cracked basins and damaged pipes. If you don’t have this in your policy and you claim, you will be denied and have to pay for the damage yourself.
Most outbuildings including fences, garden sheds and gates are usually excluded (unless your policy specifically states otherwise) so it’s worth getting additional cover if you wouldn’t want to pay for any damage to the outside of your home.
Liz Hunter
Commercial Director
Make sure your policy covers what you need it to. If you want your boiler covered for example, check if it’s included as standard or if you’ll need to pay extra. Not all policies will offer boiler cover and some will even include an annual servicing.
If you think that you might want to extend your property one day or do a loft conversion, then you need to check to see if your policy will allow for this. Some policies won’t cover you while you have building work done, but others will allow for a degree of cover while the work is ongoing. If you do have work done on your property make sure you tell your insurers.
Make sure you take into account where your property is! If you are in an area which may flood, make sure you are covered for this! It may affect your premiums, but you should make sure that your insurer covers you regardless.
It’s important that you keep your property in a reasonable condition - most insurers will expect this from you. So, make sure you keep your gutters clear and check your walls for rot. It’s important you have things like smoke alarms and don’t put things down the toilet which may cause blockages.
Keeping your roof fit for purpose is another important aspect of maintaining your property - buildings insurance requires you to tell your provider if there’s an issue. You must know if there is a problem to inform them. Don’t let your house fall down around your ears and then expect a pay out.
Don't over- or under-estimate your rebuild cost. Too low and a claim may not be fully covered; too high and you're paying for cover you don't need.
Compare buildings insurance quotes every year rather than accepting your renewal price automatically.
A higher voluntary excess usually lowers your premium - only choose an amount you could comfortably afford to pay if you needed to claim.
Good-quality locks, alarms and security cameras can all help reduce your premium.
Optional extras such as accidental damage cover are worth having, but only if you'll use them - check what's already included as standard before paying for more.
Paying monthly often means paying interest on top of your premium. Paying annually, if you can, avoids this.
The process is straightforward. You give us some details about your property, and we connect you with a broker who can help you find the right policy from a panel of trusted UK insurers.
We'll ask about your property type, when it was built, and what materials it's constructed from - this affects your rebuild cost.
Use a rebuild cost calculator or professional survey to estimate how much it would cost to rebuild your home from scratch.
Choose any extras such as accidental damage or home emergency cover, then review your options and apply.
Want to understand more before you compare? These guides cover the topics our customers find most useful.
Money Expert has been helping UK customers compare and save since 2003. We connect you with a broker who can help you find the right buildings insurance from a panel of trusted UK insurers.
We're authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 917459). Our service is completely free to use, and we receive commission from the providers we refer customers to - this doesn't affect the price you pay.
You could save up to £257* on your buildings and contents insurance
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Exactly what is deemed best will vary from person to person. Having an adequate amount of coverage for your own personal circumstances will always be the best solution for each individual. It’s important to do your research on a company before taking out a policy to make sure that they will be the right one for you.
Buildings insurance is not a legal requirement although many homeowners choose to have it for peace of mind in the case of serious damage to the home. Many mortgage providers will include a requirement for a minimum level of building cover as a stipulation in being able to borrow money. This means that while it may not be legal, not having adequate cover could prevent you from being able to own a home.
In most instances yes, if the water leak has caused damage to the structure of the building then this should be covered by your policy. There will be certain situations where you will not be covered, however. For example, if the water leak is not just your fault but due to extreme negligence then the insurer might be able to prevent you from being able to make a claim.
In most instances it will. Buildings insurance is designed to cover the permanent structure of your home and your garden wall should be covered as part of this. As always though it’s important to check and if for whatever reason the cover does not extend to your garden you can get separate garden insurance.
Insurers calculate your premium mainly from your home's rebuild cost, not its market value, along with your location, claims history and the level of cover you choose. Getting your rebuild cost right - using a rebuild calculator or professional survey - is the single biggest factor in getting an accurate quote.
Usually, yes - combined policies are typically cheaper than buying buildings and contents cover separately, and you'll only have one renewal date and one insurer to deal with if you need to claim.
Buildings insurance is one half of home insurance - it covers the structure of your property. Home insurance is the umbrella term that can include buildings insurance, contents insurance, or both combined in a single policy.
It depends on your lease. If you own the freehold, you're responsible for arranging buildings insurance yourself. If you're a leaseholder, the freeholder usually arranges buildings cover for the whole building, and you may contribute towards it through a service charge.
Learn more about leasehold buildings insurance
Buildings insurance is just one part of protecting your home. You may also want to explore these related products.
Contents Insurance
Protect what's inside your home as well as its structure.
Home Insurance
Compare combined buildings and contents cover in one policy.
Landlord Insurance
Renting out a property you own? Compare landlord insurance built for buy-to-let.
Accidental Damage Insurance
Add cover for accidents that damage your home's structure, from cracked basins to broken windows.
*51% of consumers could save £257.05 on their Home Building & Contents Insurance. The saving was calculated by comparing the cheapest price found with the average of the next fourteen cheapest prices quoted by insurance providers on Seopa Ltd’s insurance comparison website. This is based on representative cost savings from April 2026. The savings you could achieve are dependent on your individual circumstances.
