Home Insurance FAQs

Help & Frequently Asked QuestionsFind the answers to some of our most commonly asked questions below.


Standard Household Insurance FAQs General Home Insurance FAQs

Landlord Insurance FAQs Unoccupied Home Insurance FAQs

Holiday Home Insurance UK FAQs Home insurance with CCJ FAQs

Standard Household Insurance FAQs

1. Do I need Buildings or Contents Insurance or both?

Home insurance is commonly split into distinct types. Buildings Insurance covers damage to the structure and fittings of the building. Contents Insurance protects the items inside the home. Contents includes everything you would pack up if you were moving, so TVs, cutlery and crockery, furniture are all examples of contents. Fitted kitchens, sinks etc are examples of what would be protected under buildings

A buildings and contents policy would cover both under one policy.

Be aware that there some common quirks with Home Insurance, for example, damage caused by tv aerials or satellite dishes would be covered under a buildings policy, but the actual aerial or satellite dish would be covered under the contents policy, because they are considered to be a part of the TV they are connected to.

2. Why Would I Need a Contents Only Insurance Policy?

If you are living in a leasehold property or renting, then you are likely only to require Contents Insurance. This is because the freeholder should have a buildings policy in place, therefore you will likely be looking to try and cover your possessions only.

3. Are Valuables Covered Under a Contents Policy?

Yes, they usually are, although different policies may have slightly different definitions of what a ‘valuable’ is, they will generally include: jewellery, watches, collectibles, antiques, pictures and works of art. However, you will need to check your policy to make sure it meets your needs in terms of covering your valuables.

Be aware that valuables cover is usually limited to a percentage of the overall sum insured, for example on a Standard InsuraHome policy it is 20% of the total contents sum insured. There is a single item limit of £2,000 per item in place, unless item you are claiming for is specified on your schedule.


General Home Insurance FAQs

1. What does home insurance cover?

Home Insurance is divided into two main areas of cover: buildings insurance and contents insurance. When you purchase a policy, you have the choice of buying just buildings insurance, just contents insurance or a buying a combination of both.

2. What is the difference between home insurance and contents insurance?

Buildings insurance covers structural damage to your property, including but not limited to, walls, floors and your roof. Often a buildings insurance policy will also cover fixtures, fittings, and fitted appliances attached to the home.

Contents insurance covers damage or loss of your belongings within your home.

Generally speaking, if an item can be reasonably moved along to another property, then it is likely to fall into the ‘contents’ category. If an item cannot be reasonably moved and is more of a permanent fixture or fitting, then it is likely to fall into the ‘buildings’ category.

You should always check your Policy Wording for further details or ask a member of the Customer Services Team if you are unsure about what is covered.

3. What is meant by ‘non-standard construction’?

If you are lucky enough to live in an exciting home with walls or roofs made of fashionable or alternative materials like glass, timber and corrugated iron, your home may well fall into the ‘non-standard construction’ category.

To be a ‘non-standard construction’, a home must fall outside of what is defined as 'Standard Construction' by your insurer. At InsuraHome, 'Standard Construction' is defined as "Built of brick, stone or concrete with a tile, slate, asphalt, metal or concrete roof (with no more than 25% of the roof being flat)."

Many insurers would not wish to insure a home which has been built from non-standard construction materials, as non-standard materials will typically hold a different and/or additional range of risks.

Luckily, InsuraHome can provide buildings insurance for most homes made of non-standard construction materials. So, if you are looking for Home Insurance but your home falls outside of the 'Standard Construction' definition then click the button below to day to request a non-standard quote.

Click Here To Request a Quote Today >>>

4. Do I legally need home insurance?

Unlike car insurance, you are not required by law to have home insurance. However, depending on your financial circumstances, you may be required to have home insurance as part of a legal contract requirement. For example, many mortgage lenders will require you to have buildings insurance to protect your home against unforeseen circumstances.

5. What is ‘subsidence’?

We define subsidence as ‘downward movement of the ground beneath the buildings other than by settlement’.

Settlement is defined as "Downward movement as a result of the soil being compressed by the weight of the buildings within 10 years of construction."

6. Is my boiler covered by buildings insurance?

Our policies, in line with most home insurance policies, do not cover electrical or mechanical breakdowns, so boiler if your boiler stops working it is unlikely to be covered as standard. Home insurance is not a maintenance contract.

However, we may be able to provide Emergency Home Cover which does cover boiler breakdowns, depending on your property and occupation type – just ask us! Call 01483 806 815

7. I have purchased a flat/apartment – do I need to get buildings insurance?

You may already have buildings insurance in place. Usually the owner of the building containing the apartments will have taken out buildings insurance, however you should check your leasehold to be certain.

You will be responsible for your own contents insurance, even if you’re living in student accommodation. At InsuraHome, we can provide contents only insurance, call us today on 01483 806 815 to find out if we can provide a contents only policy that's right for you.

8. What is IPT?

IPT is an acronym for Insurance Premium Tax, which is a tax on general insurance premiums. Currently, Home Insurance is rated at the standard rate. You can read more about IPT here.

9. I am a tenant, do I need Buildings Insurance?

Your landlord will be responsible for looking after the building you live in, so they should have their own buildings insurance cover in place. They may also have contents insurance in place if your rented accommodation came with furnishings.

Although it is not a legal requirement, if you are renting or living in a house share, it is wise to consider taking out your own contents insurance policy to protect your personal belongings, in the event your things get lost, damaged or stolen.

If you are a tenant looking for appropriate contents insurance, our Landlord Insurance product is not designed for you as it will be unlikely to meet your requirements.

10. Why do I need a House Rebuild Cost?

When taking out Home Insurance, you are insuring your house for the cost of rebuilding in the event of a total loss, due to an insured reason, to the same standard as it is now. This is not the same as your house value on the open market. Hence why you will be asked for the rebuild cost of your home when taking out Home Insurance rather than being asked for the value of your home. If you are not sure how much it would cost to rebuild your home, then please check out the house rebuild cost calculator below.

Click here to go to a rebuild cost calculator and find out more


Landlord Insurance FAQs

1. Is Landlord Insurance compulsory/Do you legally need Landlord Insurance?

Landlord Insurance is not legally required and is therefore not compulsory although many mortgage providers require Building Insurances as mandatory and some lettings agencies strongly encourage Landlord Insurance to the point where they will refuse to manage your property without it!

However, even with the perfect tenant things can still go wrong which could potentially leave you out of pocket. That’s why Landlord Insurance is there to protect you financially against unexpected events that could otherwise cost a lot of money. Always refer to the policy wording for full summary of covers.

2. What does Landlord Insurance cover?

Landlord Insurance should always have cover for buildings, which covers damages to the structure and costs associated with the repair of damages to the structure that may come about.

Contents cover is also available on Landlord Insurance which protects landlords against the cost of replacing any household goods and personal property within the home which belong to or for which you are legally liable for that may be damaged during the duration of the tenancy – this includes things such as furniture or domestic appliances.

Other covers on a Landlord Insurance policy may include loss of rent as well as liability protection if your tenant is injured in the property and you are found legally liable.

3. What does Landlord Insurance cost?

The cost of Landlord Insurance will vary from policy to policy depending on the size of your property, whether it is furnished or unfurnished, whether you rent to students and several other factors. When choosing a Landlord Insurance policy make sure that it meets your requirements to ensure that you are protected.

4. Who is Landlord Insurance for?

Landlord Insurance is designed for landlords that wish to protect the building and/or contents for homes that are being occupied by tenants.

5. What is the difference between standard Home Insurance and Landlord Insurance?

Landlord Insurance is similar to home insurance, but also includes landlord-specific covers such as:

  • Theft or Attempted Theft by Tenants
  • Ground Rent which you must pay whilst the home cannot be lived in following loss or damage
  • Accidental Damage to the landlord’s contents
  • Rent Guarantee
  • Eviction proceedings against a tenant or guarantor to recover possession of the home where the tenant breaks their tenancy agreement

6. What kind of things are included under Landlords Contents cover?

Landlords Contents can cover an array of important items such as furniture, carpets, curtains, blinds, televisions and other audio visual equipment, pictures and paintings and additional contents kept within garages and outbuildings.

Landlords Contents does not cover property belonging to tenants, living creatures, money and credit cards, pedal cycles, guns, computers and laptops or clothes. Tenants should consider their own Contents Insurance for personal items, as Landlords Contents cover is not intended to cover any of the tenants personal belongings.

For a full list of items included and excluded, please refer to the Policy Wording.

7. What is Rent Guarantee?

Rent Guarantee provides cover for rent owed by a tenant up to a maximum amount payable, and where appropriate, are pursuing a claim against the tenant to evict them from the home.

Terms, Conditions and Exclusions apply – please refer to the Policy Wording for further information.

8. Will I require personal information from my tenants?

As standard, all that we ask is for details of your tenancy agreement and the occupation of each of your tenants.If the underwriters require more information, we will request at that point

9. Is the homes boiler covered for breakdown and repair by Landlord Insurance?

Our policies, in line with most home insurance policies, do not cover electrical or mechanical breakdowns, so boiler if your boiler stops working it is unlikely to be covered as standard. Home insurance is not a maintenance contract.

However, we may be able to provide Emergency Home Cover which does cover boiler breakdowns, depending on your property and occupation type – just ask us! Call 01483 806 815


Unoccupied Home Insurance FAQs

1. Can you get insurance for an Unoccupied home?

The simple answer is yes you can get insurance for an unoccupied home. Unoccupied home insurance covers you when your house or other residential property is unoccupied for longer than your standard home insurance policy will allow. InsuraHome Unoccupied home Insurance can provide cover for unoccupied properties for periods of 90, 180, 270 days or annual cover.

2. What counts is classed as an Unoccupied home?

You may be wondering – how long can I leave my house unoccupied so that It’s still covered? In terms of standard normal home insurance, an unoccupied home is usually one that has been left uninhabited for more than 30 days. This is because most standard home insurance policies will not cover your property if it is left unoccupied for longer than 30-60 days because of the increased risk of theft, vandalism, a burst pipe being undiscovered and more. Therefore, there are specialised non-standard unoccupied home insurance policies available on the market designed to cover these risks and circumstances.

3. How much does Unoccupied home Insurance cost?

The cost of an unoccupied home insurance policy will vary depending on many factors such as the value of the property, condition of the property as well as the location and security of the property as if the property is in an area with a high crime rate, then the price of cover is likely to increase.

In general, unoccupied home insurance will cost more than a standard home insurance policy in terms cost per day of cover due to the additional risks associated with an unoccupied home.

4. What is the difference between Standard Home Insurance and Unoccupied Home Insurance?

Unoccupied Home Insurance is similar to standard home insurance, but also includes unoccupied-specific benefits, such as flexible periods of cover and it being acceptable for the property to be your main occupational residence.

It is common to find that many mainstream home insurance providers will not be able to offer regular home insurance for a vacant home, as this type of property is perceived to present a greater risk to insurers.

Unoccupied Home Insurance may also exclude or have reduced for cover for areas such as damage caused by the escape of water, due to this damage likely to be more widespread as the property is unoccupied and damage cannot be limited.

5. Does it matter how long my home has been unoccupied for?

No. We have, and will continue to, offer cover for individuals with residential homes that have been unoccupied for many years.


Holiday Home Insurance FAQs

1. Can you get insurance for a Second Home?

The simple answer is yes you can get insurance for a holiday home. Holiday Home Insurance UK covers you when your property is empty for longer than your standard home insurance policy will allow and will also offer protection should you decide to offer short term holiday lets, including Air Bnb.

2. What counts as a Holiday Home?

A Holiday Home is one that you own but is not your permanent residence.

Most ‘standard’ home insurance policies will not cover your property for risks associated with a holiday home, such as if it is left unoccupied for longer than 30-60 days because of the increased risk of theft, vandalism, a burst pipe being undiscovered and more. Therefore, there are specialised non-standard Holiday Home Insurance UK policies available on the market designed to cover these risks and other specific to owning a holiday home.

3. How much does Holiday Home insurance cost?

The cost of a Holiday Home Insurance UK policy will vary depending on many factors such as the value of the property, condition of the property as well as the location and security of the property as if the property is in an area with a high crime rate then the price of cover is likely to increase.

In general, Holiday Home Insurance UK will cost more than a standard home insurance policy in terms cost per day of cover due to the additional risks associated with owning a holiday home.

4. I have a holiday home – Why would I not just buy regular home insurance?

You will likely find that most regular home insurance policies will not cover holiday homes or second homes, as they are perceived to be too great a risk. This can be down to a number of reasons, including but not limited to, the fact the property may be vacant for extended periods of time and that the home is not a main residence.

Fortunately, not only is Retreat Home Insurance available, it also includes holiday home-specific covers, for full peace of mind.

5. What does Retreat Home Insurance cover?

Retreat Home Insurance is divided into two main areas of cover: buildings insurance and contents insurance. When you purchase a policy, you have the choice of buying just buildings insurance, just contents insurance or buying a combination of both.

Additionally, Retreat Home Insurance is not a regular home insurance policy. InsuraHome’s UK Holiday Home Insurance includes holiday home-specific cover, such as Theft or Attempted Theft by Guests/Tenants, Loss of Rent and Accidents to Domestic Staff.

6. What is the difference between standard home insurance and Retreat Home Insurance?

Retreat Home Insurance is similar to standard home insurance, but is also available for holiday homes and second homes that are either used privately for family and friends, or for commercial letting.

Specific covers that are only relevant to second and/or holiday homes are also included, such as:

  • Loss of Rent
  • Alternative Accommodation
  • Theft and/or Attempted Theft by Guests and/or Tenants
  • Accidents to Domestic Staff
  • Guests and Visitors Personal Effects
  • & more!

7. Does the holiday home need to be occupied at all times?

No! We understand that a holiday and/or second homes may not always be occupied.

8. Will Retreat Home Insurance cover my villa in Spain?

Sadly, we only cover properties located within the United Kingdom at the moment with this product. This means we will currently only cover properties located in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, The Isle of Man and The Channel Islands

However, our European Holiday Home Insurance may be useful. Click here to find out more

9. Do I legally need home insurance for my holiday home?

Unlike car insurance, you are not required by law to have home insurance. However, depending on your financial circumstances, you may be required to have home insurance as part of a legal contract requirement.

For example, many mortgage lenders will require you to have buildings insurance to protect your holiday home against unforeseen circumstances.

10. Does UK Holiday Home Insurance include caravans?

Unfortunately, no. Retreat Home Insurance is only available for fixed properties/buildings, typically made from materials such as brick and concrete. Although, we may be able to cover properties made from non-standard materials such as timber, stramit, glass and steel upon referral.


Home Insurance with a CCJ FAQs

1. Does CCJ affect home insurance?

Having a CCJ or County Court Judgement against you and therefore being on The Register of Judgements, Order and Fines may make it more difficult to get home insurance from some insurers as these individuals are believed to be of higher risk. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t get home insurance at all.

At InsuraHome we provide a non-judgemental home insurance for people with CCJs so that you can get home insurance just like everyone else.

2. Why has my home insurance claim been rejected? Is it because I have a CCJ against me?

There are many reasons as to why your home insurance claims may have been rejected and without understanding the terms of your policy it is difficult to know why. One reason however may be because you have a CCJ against you and this may be against the terms of your existing standard home insurance policy.

Didn’t find the answer that you were looking for? No problem! Call one of our Home Insurance Specialists today on +44 (0) 1483 806 815

As with any insurance products we recommend that if you have any questions and/or problems to read your Schedule of Benefits, Policy Wording and contact your insurance provider if you aren’t sure of any details within your cover.

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