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It isn't just about price either. Policies can differ meaningfully on excess levels, what is and isn't covered, and which optional extras are included. Comparing helps you find cover that actually fits your home, your belongings and your budget, rather than defaulting to whatever you had last year.
Home insurance is a type of cover that pays out in the event of damage to, or loss/ theft of, your home and your possessions inside it. There are two components to home insurance: buildings insurance and contents insurance. These, can be bought separately or together, combined in one policy. Generally, buildings insurance covers the property you purchased (e.g. the structure and permanent fittings). Contents insurance covers everything you take into the property.
Comparing home insurance quotes from multiple providers is the easiest way to make sure you get the right combination of cover at the best price.
Before you compare home insurance quotes, it helps to understand what you're actually comparing. Policies can look similar at first glance but differ quite a bit once you look at the detail.
A lower premium doesn't always mean a better deal. Some policies offset a low headline price with a higher excess, tighter exclusions, or lower limits on valuables and contents. When you compare, it's worth looking at the full policy terms alongside the price, not just the monthly or annual cost.
Standard home insurance policies typically cover damage from fire, floods, storms, burst pipes, theft and vandalism. But accidental damage cover, personal possessions cover and home emergency cover are often optional extras you need to add separately. Checking what's included as standard, versus what costs extra, can make a real difference to the value of the policy you choose.
Whether you own your home outright, have a mortgage, rent, or let out a property will all affect the type of cover you need. The same applies if you own a flat, a listed building, a holiday home, or a property you leave empty for long periods. Standard policies aren't always suitable for every situation, so it's worth knowing your options before you apply.
There are three main types of home insurance cover. Compare all three below to see which combination suits your home.
Buildings insurance covers the cost of repairing damage done to the structure of your property. This can cover everything from the pipes to the windows, the flooring to the roof. Often, gardens, pools and sheds and fences are covered too.
It should cover the full rebuild cost of your property, and cover you for loss or damage caused by subsidence, fire, storms, and floods. It won't cover general wear and tear damage, or damage brought about by poor workmanship.
It is often compulsory if you are buying a property with a mortgage (and recommended if you are buying one without). If you are renting it is usually the landlord's responsibility to take out buildings insurance.
Covers damage done to the structure of your property.
You won't be covered for damage brought about by poor workmanship or wear and tear.
Often compulsory if you have a mortgage
Unnecessary if you are renting.
Contents insurance covers the cost of replacing your personal possessions or valuables in your home if they are stolen, damaged, or destroyed.
This will include things like kitchen appliances and white goods, furniture, electrical items, clothes, and jewellery. What is exactly covered will depend on your insurer and policy, so it is worth checking before taking out any new home insurance cover.
Similarly, items lost or stolen outside your home aren’t always covered too; you might need to take out personal possessions cover to ensure this is the case.
Covers the cost of replacing personal possessions in your home if they are stolen, damaged, or destroyed.
Accidental damage isn't always included but can be added on separately - it is best to check!
Items lost or stolen outside the home aren’t always covered - you might need to take out personal possessions cover
A combined home insurance policy will include both buildings and contents insurance, covering both your personal possessions and the structure of your home.
Includes the cover included in both contents and buildings insurance.
Usually cheaper than taking out two separate policies with different providers.
Unlike car insurance, home insurance isn't a legal requirement. However, both buildings and contents insurance offer peace of mind that is usually worth the monthly cost. Which of the two you need will usually depend on whether you rent or own your home, and whether or not you have a mortgage. We'll help you decide what type of cover you might need:
If you own your home, you are responsible for the building as well as the contents, and as such, it's worth taking out cover for both. Mortgage providers will often make buildings insurance a condition of the loan, and while some will offer cover themselves, you'll usually get a better deal by comparing providers online.
As a renter, you won't be responsible for upkeep or protection of the building you rent, but you will be responsible for your possessions inside it and so contents insurance is worth taking out. Many lettings agents will require you to take out contents cover as part of your tenancy agreement, so keep an eye out for that if so.
Find out more: Home insurance for renters
Landlords are encouraged to take out buildings insurance, but will usually not need contents cover unless they keep some of their possessions in the property.
Find out more: Home insurance for landlords
Some home insurance providers will offer specialist cover suitable for holiday homes that takes into account the fact that the property will be empty for extended periods. If you let the property out, you might need specialist host insurance which overlaps with business insurance, including liability cover for example.
Find out more: Holiday home insurance
Students in university halls typically won't need extra insurance, but those in shared rental properties will have the same requirements as other tenants. Contents insurance can be particularly useful in student areas where thefts might be more common.
Find out more: Home insurance for students
Exactly what’s covered by your home insurance will vary depending on your policy, but you can generally expect your terms to be based on the following:
What is covered
Damage from floods, leaks and storms
Fire damage
Frozen or burst pipes
Subsidence and landslip
Damage from fallen trees and branches
Theft and burglary
Vandalism and intentional damage
General wear and tear
Damage that results from negligence
Maintenance of your home
Infestations or pest damage
Weather-related damage to gardens and fences
Gradual damage, such as damp that develops slowly over time
Theft through unforced entry, for example an unlocked window
Mechanical or electrical breakdown
Accidental damage, unless you've added it as cover
Many insurers offer additional cover ‘add-ons’, for those who want a bit more protection from their policy.
Accidental damage cover protects you against any damage caused to your property or possessions due to an unexpected accident
Home emergency cover will cover the costs of any emergency repairs you need to make, such as a broken boiler, faulty electrics or a burst pipe.
Home severely damaged by flood or fire? Alternative accommodation cover will cover the costs of a hotel while your home is on the mend
To protect your valuables outside the home, you will need personal possessions cover. Sometimes this is included with contents insurance, so it is worth checking with your provider to make sure.
A good bicycle doesn’t come cheap, so it’s a good idea to add bicycle cover to your home insurance to cover the costs of replacing your bike if it’s damaged, lost or stolen.
Cover yourself against any legal fees that come about as a result of owning your home, including disputes with neighbours or tradespeople, and personal injury claims.
Every year your home insurance comes up for renewal. Compare policies when your renewal date approaches and you could find a better deal.
You will often be offered a no claims discount if you go without claiming for several years.
If you choose to pay monthly, you’ll often have to pay interest on top of your payments; pay annually to avoid interest charges and admin fees.
You’ll usually get a lower premium if you offer a higher excess, as it is assumed you will be less likely to claim.
Investing in high-security locks on doors and windows, and installing a burglar alarm could make your policy cheaper.
Homes left unoccupied are at a higher risk of being targeted by burglars, or damaged by fire or water.
The cost of your home insurance premiums will be based on a combination of factors. Some of the things that could influence these costs include:
The area you live in: If your area is at risk of flooding or has a high crime rate, your insurer may see you as more likely to make a claim in the future thereby increasing your premiums.
Size of your property: Larger homes will cost more to rebuild if severely damaged, so are typically more expensive to insure than smaller homes.
Add-ons: If you add optional extras to your home insurance policy, such as accidental damage cover, you can expect your premiums to go up as you’ll be getting more cover than is standard.
Overall property build: The types of materials used to build your home can affect your premiums, especially if they’re difficult to source or require specialist tradespeople to repair.
Contents value: Owning lots of expensive items that you want to insure means paying more in your monthly premiums, especially if you need to insure particular items separately due to their value.
Credit score: While having a good credit score isn’t essential when taking out home insurance, the better your score is, the more likely providers are to give you a more favourable rate.
The standard types of home insurance are buildings, contents and combined, but some properties or circumstances may require specialist cover, such as:
Empty homes are at a greater risk of damage or being broken into, which is why they’re not typically covered under standard home insurance policies. Even if you still live in your home but will be leaving it empty for over 30 days, you may need to adjust your home insurance policy to make sure you’re still covered.
Standard home insurance is designed to cover the home you live in, not the ones you rent out. Landlord home insurance will make sure your property and any contents you own in it are covered. You may also want to take out add-ons such as rent guarantee insurance, which can cover you if a tenant fails to pay their rent one month.
Listed buildings can be expensive and difficult to repair, meaning that insurers may have to hire specialists to carry out work and source rare materials when resolving a claim you've made. Standard home insurance is unlikely to be up to the task and may leave you footing repair bills yourself.
Similarly to unoccupied home insurance, holiday home insurance covers properties you may not spend time in for most of the year. However, holiday home cover can also provide you with protection if you decide to rent out your holiday home when you aren’t using it yourself.
Insuring flats isn’t always as straightforward as insuring houses. This is because many flats have leasehold agreements, which may mean your building is collectively responsible for buildings insurance, or it may mean it’s already taken care of by the building owner.
The process is straightforward. You provide some details about your property and your cover needs, 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 for details including your property type, number of rooms, when it was built, and what it was constructed from. You'll also need an estimate of your home's rebuild cost and the value of your contents.
Let us know whether you need buildings cover, contents cover, or both. You can also indicate whether you want to explore optional extras such as accidental damage or home emergency cover.
Once you've submitted your details, a broker will be on hand to help you find the right cover. If you need time to think, you can retrieve your quote later without starting again.
We will need the following information to find you a new quote:
(See the checklist below - have these to hand before you start and it takes most people a couple of minutes.)
Including the type of property, number of rooms, year it was built, and what it was built with.
How many people live in the property, for how long they have lived there, and how often it is left unoccupied.
The locks fitted on the doors and windows, and whether an alarm is installed.
Including address, contact details, and employment details.
How much it will cost to rebuild your home if it were destroyed.
How much you estimate it will cost to replace your contents if they were destroyed.
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 home insurance from a panel of trusted UK insurers.
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Unlike car insurance, home insurance in the UK is not mandatory. However, it’s recommended that everyone should get both contents and buildings insurance to protect their home and belongings should the unexpected happen. Without home insurance you will have to pay for any repairs or replace any valuables yourself. Also, many mortgage providers will require you to have home insurance until the end of your term at least.
Many factors go into determining how much you pay for your home insurance. Your insurer will take into account the size of your home, the property’s rebuild value, the value of your contents and the area you live in. The level of cover you require will also affect your premiums, as will any extras you include in your policy. You will also be rewarded with cheaper premiums the longer you go without making a claim.
Buildings insurance will protect you against the costs of repairing your home after a fire, flood or other serious damage. Meanwhile, contents insurance will cover the costs of any damage, loss or theft your belongings inside your home. Always check with your insurer to see exactly what’s included, as it varies from policy to policy.
Your credit score will not affect the cost of your home insurance. However, it does affect how you are able to pay for your home insurance. If you want to spread the cost of your home insurance by paying in monthly instalments, your insurer will run a credit check on you to assess your ability to pay. But if you choose to pay for the whole year, then you won’t need a credit check.
A higher voluntary excess usually lowers your monthly premium, but only raises it to an amount you could comfortably afford to pay if you needed to claim. Like most types of insurance policy, you will have to pay an excess to make a claim on your home insurance. There are two types of excess – compulsory and voluntary excess. Your insurance provider will set your compulsory excess, but you can decide on what your voluntary excess is. Generally, the higher your voluntary excess is then the cheaper your monthly instalments will be. However, be careful as not to set your excess too high, as you need to keep it affordable to make a claim if you need to.
A single article limit refers to the maximum amount your insurance provider will pay out for a particular item. This will vary between providers and also the covered items themselves. Make sure you’re aware of any single article limits placed on your valuables so that you know exactly how much you’re covered for.
If you have a mortgage or own your home, then you will only be insured if you’ve bought home insurance yourself. If you’re not sure, have a look at your bank statements to see if there’s any evidence of payment, or your emails to see if there’s any correspondence with an insurance provider. If you rent your property, it’s the legal requirement of your landlord to get buildings insurance. However, it is up to you to get contents insurance to protect your belongings.
Contact your insurer as soon as possible, and the police too if you've been burgled, so you have a crime reference number. If your home is burgled, take note of the crime reference number the police give you, then call your home insurance provider to let them know of the situation, and provide them with any photos you have as evidence. You may also need receipts for any belongings that have been stolen, or bank statements proving the purchase. You will then need to pay the excess -both the compulsory excess and the voluntary excess that you set yourself -in order for your insurer to pay out. If your home is damaged by fire, flooding or any other event, take photographs of the damage and call your insurer to provide them with all the details.
If you carry out any building work on your home, you need to tell your insurer about any changes you're making. If you don't let your insurance provider know of any structural changes to your property, then your home insurance policy could become invalidated when it comes to making a claim. Small changes, such as upgrading your bathroom, may not need to be declared, but it's always worth checking with your insurer just to be sure.
Most contents insurance policies will cover the costs of any damage or loss of your belongings inside your home. However, if you want to extend that protection to when you’re outside of your property, you may need to add personal possessions cover. This provides you cover for the loss, theft or damage to items such as laptops, mobile phones and jewellery when you’re out and about. But you still need to look after your things. If your insurance provider believes you were negligent regarding your possessions, you most likely won’t receive a payout.
Typically, your garage, shed or any other outhouse on your property should be covered by both your buildings insurance and contents insurance. Garden insurance is also usually included with your contents insurance, meaning your pots, plants and other garden furniture should be protected. However, you should check with your insurance provider before taking out a policy to see exactly what’s covered, as the level of protection provided varies significantly between insurers.
Yes. Wherever you are, you should be able to find a home insurance policy to meet your needs. However, if you live in an area prone to flooding then you may have to pay more than average for your cover. But due to a government initiative called the Flood Re scheme, it’s now easier than it ever has been to find flood insurance at an affordable price.
When applying for a home insurance policy, you may be asked about any trees in close proximity to your home. This is because trees pose a risk to the structure of your property, from either falling onto your home in high winds or through root damage. If you have any large trees within a few metres of your home, you may have to pay more for your buildings insurance, or some insurers may not even cover you at all.
Yes, you can cancel your home insurance, though the fees and refund you're entitled to depend on when you cancel. If you've only recently taken out the policy, cancelling is straightforward: legally, you have a two-week 'cooling-off' period in which you can cancel easily. Any time after that, it gets more difficult, most providers will give you a pro-rata refund provided you have no claims for that year, but may also charge a cancellation fee. It's often easier and cheaper to see out your current policy and switch at your annual renewal date instead.
Home insurance isn’t strictly required by law, but protecting your home with insurance is highly recommended. Most mortgages have made it a condition that you should at least have buildings insurance in place. Although contents insurance is up to you, it is worth asking yourself if you could afford to replace all of your possessions yourself if they were to be stolen or damaged.
The quickest way is to run one home insurance comparison that checks buildings, contents or combined cover across multiple insurers at once, rather than requesting quotes from each provider separately. Compare at renewal every year, since loyal customers are often quoted more than new customers for the same cover.
There's no single insurer that's always cheapest - the best price depends on your property, location and claims history, which is why comparing quotes rather than picking one named provider gets you the best deal. Improving your home security, raising your voluntary excess and paying annually rather than monthly will all reduce your price with most insurers.
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.
Accidental damage covers things like spilling wine on a carpet, putting a foot through the loft floor, or cracking a window by accident - sudden, unintentional damage rather than gradual wear and tear. It's usually an optional add-on rather than standard cover, so check before you assume you're protected.
Money Expert's panel includes well-known UK insurers such as Aviva, AXA, Admiral, LV=, Direct Line, Tesco and Policy Expert, among others. Rather than naming one 'best' provider, comparing live quotes across this panel is the most reliable way to find the right cover for your circumstances at the best price.
A broker will search a panel of 40+ UK insurers to help find a policy that suits your property and cover needs. You won't need to contact each insurer individually.
Yes. Our panel includes insurers who cover a range of property types, including listed buildings, non-standard construction, flats, and homes left unoccupied for extended periods. If your situation is more complex, a broker will be on hand to help you find appropriate cover.
You can retrieve an existing quote at any time without having to start again. Use our quote retrieval tool to pick up where you left off.
Money Expert receives commission from the insurers and brokers we refer customers to. This doesn't affect the price you pay, and it doesn't influence how your options are presented to you. The service is completely free for you to use.
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*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.
