Home Insurance FAQs

You are able to include personal possession cover for the items you take away from the home. Please select this option when obtaining a quotation, along with the level of cover that will suit your needs.

If you are moving home, we will be able to change your address on your current policy. Please call our Customer Service Team on 01622 766960 and select option 3.

Trace and Access Cover is included in most home insurance policies and refers to detecting and uncovering leaking pipes in your home. Please see the policy wording for full details of cover provided.

Yes, most providers will offer alternative accommodation in the event that your home is uninhabitable following an insured peril. Please see the policy wording for full details of cover provided.

Buildings insurance covers the cost of repairing damage to the structure of your property. This includes the roof, walls and floors as well as permanent fittings and fixtures, including windows or fitted kitchens. Contents cover could protect against the cost of replacing or repairing damaged, destroyed or stolen items inside your home, like your furniture, jewellery and clothing. Please refer to the policy wording for details of the cover and exclusions that apply.

The policies we offer can be tailored to suit your needs. You can select to insure the main structure, the contents within the home (i.e. tables, chairs, sofas and beds), Items you may take outside of the home (i.e. mobile phones and laptops), with the options for additional add-ons, such as Home Family Legal Expenses (i.e. disputes with neighbours and employment) and Home Emergency cover (i.e. Emergency repair costs and pest infestation).

The Excess is the amount you pay towards a claim. An insurer will have a compulsory excess, which cannot be changed, and then you will have an option to include a voluntary excess. You can increase the voluntary excess and this is likely to reduce your overall premium.

Some insurers may use your credit score to calculate your premium or whether to provide you with a quote at all.

Some home insurance providers need to know which type of locks you have as some are considered more secure than others.

Typical locks:

• Five-Lever Mortice Locks – often found on wooden front doors, and need a key to lock and open them.
• Multi-Point Locking Systems – commonly found on uPVC doors, If you need to lift a handle to lock the door this is likely to be one of these
• Night Latches – surface mounted, and automatically lock the door closes.

The Metropolitan Police also offer guidance on preventing crime and offer some useful tips and guidance on the types of locks available: www.met.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/protect-home-crime/door-security-advice/

For the buildings insurance, you would need enough to re-build the property from scratch if it were destroyed. You can check how much this is currently insured for with your existing provider, check a home buyers guide if the property has been purchased recently, or for guidance visit https://abi.bcis.co.uk.

In respect to the contents insurance, the best way to work this out is to make a list of all your possessions and then add up the value room by room on a replacement basis.

If, at the point of taking out a new insurance you have building works planned, we will need to refer this to us with details of the works. The insurer will need to know details of the works, cost, dates and the time the work will take.

If you’re an existing customer and have building works then you need to let us know before the work is due to take place. If you don’t, this may invalidate your cover.

Most providers will insure you for the damage caused by ‘burst pipes and water leaks’ as standard. This is usually classed as ‘escape of water’ whether caused by burst pipes, blocked drains or a leak from the washing machine. The excess (the amount you pay towards a claim) is often higher than a standard excess so please check this. Please refer to the policy wording for full details of the cover provided and exclusions.

If you are renting your home the landlord is usually responsible for the buildings insurance, so you will need to arrange to cover the contents that belong to you.

Your home insurance needs to cover the costs of rebuilding your home, rather than the market value. You can use an online calculator, courtesy of the Association of British Insurers to assist you https://abi.bcis.co.uk.

It would be best to speak to us to discuss the options available, as the insurance terms can differ depending on individual circumstances, such as if you intend to return to the property or if the home will remain unoccupied pending a sale. We will be happy to talk you through the options and understand your requirements/intentions.