Buildings insurance

Do I need buildings insurance?

Buildings insurance isn't a legal requirement like car insurance, but it can still be a good idea to have it in place if:

• You have a mortgage: Most lenders will ask you to have buildings insurance in place as one of the conditions of the mortgage. This also applies if you own a freehold flat, or if you share the freehold with other flat owners in your block.
• You own your home outright: Whether you buy buildings insurance is entirely up to you, but it can help make expensive essential repairs more affordable.
• You're a landlord: Since it's your responsibility to pay for repairs to your property, buildings insurance is a good idea. Specific landlords insurance might be an even better fit, as it can help cover some of the other costs landlords face.
• You’re the executor of a will: If you’re dealing with a deceased person’s estate, you need to make sure any property is insured. If the property is empty you need unoccupied home insurance.

You probably don't need buildings insurance if: 

• You rent. Maintenance and repairs are your landlord's responsibility. That said, it's worth considering tenants insurance to protect your home's contents.
• If you own a leasehold flat: The building should be covered by the freeholder. Cover is usually arranged for the building as a whole, not just your flat.

What buildings insurance doesn't cover

Buildings insurance generally excludes damage caused by:

• Wear and tear
• Poor maintenance – for example, you wouldn't be able to claim if your roof developed a leak because it wasn’t maintained properly
• Poor workmanship or negligence
• Renovations that you didn’t tell your insurer about before work started
• Birds, insects or other pest infestations
• Frost to external pipes and brickwork
• Rising damp or condensation, but you’ll still need to tell your insurer if you have rising damp

Buildings insurance also doesn't cover:

• An unoccupied property, if you didn’t tell your insurer.
• Your furniture, personal belongings, floor coverings and gadgets. You’ll need contents insurance for that.

Some providers exclude storm damage to sheds, greenhouse, fences and gates, so check the details of your policy before buying.

How can I get cheaper buildings insurance?

You can keep the cost of your home insurance down by:

• Not over-insuring. Only pay for the cover you need.
• Explore policy options like combined contents and buildings insurance, as this is often cheaper than buying 2 separate policies.
• Pay annually: Insurers charge interest for paying monthly. You'll end up paying more if you spread the cost over the year.
• Compare quotes: Switching may be cheaper than renewing your current policy.
• Make your home safer: Smoke alarms, a burglar alarm, and other security measures can lower your risk and, so, your costs.
• Build your no-claims bonus (NCB) as the longer you go without claiming, the more of a no claims discount you usually get.

What optional extras can I add to buildings insurance?

Most insurers offer optional extras that you can add onto your policy to tailor it to your needs. These include:

• Accidental damage cover. This covers things like mistakenly drilling into a water pipe or putting your foot through the ceiling.
• Legal expenses cover. Covers your costs if you have to go to court, for example because of a boundary dispute.
• Home emergency cover. Helps cover emergency repairs to your plumbing, gas, and electrics.
• Boiler breakdown cover. Helps cover the cost of callouts, labour, repairs and even replacement if your boiler breaks.
• Alternative accommodation cover. This covers the cost of living somewhere else while you rebuild or repair your home.

Some providers may include some or all of these as standard, so check your policy for the details of your cover.