Not sure what cover you need for your property? Find out more by reading some of our useful guides about finding the right cover for your buildings and contents.
Still not entirely sure what cover you need to protect your home and belongings? We’ve taken the time to answer some frequently asked questions.
Buildings and contents insurance (also known as ‘home insurance’) provides cover for the structure of your home as well as everything that’s inside it, including your clothes and furniture. This will protect your home and belongings against risks such as fire, theft and flood, as well as providing additional covers such as property owners’ liability insurance and cover for stolen keys.
It’s usually a requirement of your mortgage provider to have some form of buildings insurance in place, and they may even request to be added as a note of interest to the policy. Check the terms of your mortgage to see what’s required.
You’ll also need to assess what level of contents you need, as it can be easy to underestimate the value of your belongings. If the property is entirely empty with no furnishing or fittings, you may find that you only require buildings insurance for your property.
If you are the leaseholder of a flat, however, you may find that you only require contents insurance as it will be the responsibility of the freeholder or management company to insure the building.
The cost of your buildings and contents insurance will rely on a number of factors, including:
These are just a few of the factors that will be considered when calculating your quote. For full details, please speak to one of our expert consultants on 0333 234 1552.
If you have a property that has previously suffered from subsidence, heave, landslip or flooding, or is unoccupied, Howden may not be able to offer cover under their standard home buildings and contents insurance policy. However, we do have a specialist non-standard property team who may be able to help you find cover.
Buildings insurance provides cover for the structure of your property, including fixtures and fittings. Contents insurance provides cover for the belongings that you keep inside your property, such as your clothes, furniture and white goods.
Essentially if you were to turn your home upside down and shake it, anything that fell out would be considered contents. Anything that remains would be covered under buildings insurance.
Generally, home buildings and contents insurance also provides cover for:
Keys and locks
Replace keys and locks for external doors if your keys have been stolen. Keys and locks to safes or alarm systems are also covered.Up to £500 to replace keys and locks for external doors if your keys have been stolen. Keys and locks to safes or alarm systems are also covered.
Cover away from home
Protect the items that are most valuable to you whilst you're out and about. Items such as laptops and mobile phones can be covered. You can also cover more expensive items by specifying them on your policy.
Outbuildings and garden
Garden furniture, patio heaters, lawnmowers, pots and plants can be covered. You can also claim for items damaged or stolen from outbuildings.
Escape of water or oil
You’re covered if your washing machine, dishwasher, central heating system or fridge leaks, providing they’ve been kept in a good state of repair. You’re also covered for any loss of metered water.
Underground pipes and cables
Cover for accidental damage to underground drains, pipes, cables and tanks providing services to or from your home for which you are legally responsible.
Trace and access
Detecting and repairing the source of a water leak.
Check your policy to ensure what is and isn’t covered.
No two homes are the same, and everyone’s insurance needs are different, which is why insurers provide flexible cover options for customers. Typically, you can choose to add the following covers to your buildings and content insurance:
Legal expenses
If you find yourself in a dispute relating to employment, contract or property issues, or clinical negligence, we’re here to help. We’ll appoint a law firm on your behalf and you can claim for legal representation.
Find out more about legal cover.
Home emergency
Reassurance for a range of problems such as a break in, or central heating that doesn’t work (as long as it’s been regularly serviced).
Accidental damage
Choose accidental damage insurance as an optional extra on your home insurance and you’re covered for those irritating mishaps that are costly to fix. So if you put your foot through a floorboard or a hot iron falls off the ironing board and burns the carpet, you’re covered.
